Piper PA-28-236 N81X

Summary

On 16 September 1994 at about 14:02 local time, a Piper PA-28-236 registered N81X was involved in an accident near Vernon, New Jersey, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 September 1994 at 14:02

Classification

Accident

Location

Vernon, New Jersey, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-236

Registration

N81X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

West Milford → Newport

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC94FA178

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control which resulted a loss of control and inflight collision with the terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE INSTRUMENT CURRENT PILOT WAS ON AN INSTRUMENT DEPARTURE, WHEN HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO LEVEL OFF AT 3000 FT. WHEN CLEARED TO CONTINUE THE CLIMB TO 6000 FT, AND JOIN THE AIRWAY, RADAR DATA REVEALED THE AIRPLANE STARTED A RIGHT TURN AND CLIMBED TO 3300 FT. IT THEN DESCENDED TO 3200 FEET FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS, AND CONTINUED THE TURN TO THE RIGHT. THE TURN AND DESCENT CONTINUED UNTIL THE AIRPLANE DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR AT 2600 FT, 1/2 NM FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE. WITNESSES REPORTED AN OVERCAST IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. ONE WITNESS REPORTED HE SAW THE AIRPLANE FLYING WINGS LEVEL JUST ABOVE THE TREE TOPS. THE AIRPLANE THEN ROLLED LEFT, AND WITH NO CHANGE IN ENGINE POWER, DESCENDED INTO THE WATER IN A LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.