Barnes Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Holyoke, Massachusetts 01040
Friday, October 3, 1986 19:37 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A SPECIAL VISUAL FLIGHT RULES ARRIVAL WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A ROCK FACE SLOPE 2 MILES EAST OF THE AIRPORT WHILE ON A EASTERLY HEADING. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED OVER 1 HOUR AFTER SUNSET. THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE AN INSTRUMENT RATING. THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE FATALLY INJURED. A SPECIAL WEATHER OBSERVATION TAKEN RIGHT AFTER THE ACCIDENT SHOWED THE WEATHER TO BE: ESTIMATED 400 FT BROKEN, 1400 FT OVERCAST. VISIBILITY 1 1/2 MILES WITH LIGHT RAIN AND FOG.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/3/1986
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1937
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City HOLYOKE
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01040
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BARNES
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BAF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 90
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1937 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 75
Weather Observation Facility ID BAF
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1914
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 3 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2320
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 32390
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N38688
NTSB Number NYC87FA006
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7725259
Certified Max Gross Weight 2050
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 13 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 51
Airframe Hours 3800
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT MCNEILL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 42 CRESTWOOD LANE
Aircraft Owner City HAMPDEN
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 01056
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GERALD C. WHITE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1801
Operator City WESTFIELD
Operator State MA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 01086
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 7B2
Departure City NORTHAMPTON
Departure State MA
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BAF
Destination City WESTFIELD
Destination State MA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --