Piper PA-28-181 N84280

Summary

On 24 July 1996 at about 15:15 local time, a Piper PA-28-181 registered N84280, operated by Albert J. Battifarano, was involved in an accident near Sea Bright, New Jersey, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 July 1996 at 15:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Sea Bright, New Jersey, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-181

Registration

N84280

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Albert J. Battifarano

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Belmare → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC96FA158

1 person died.

the pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his failure to maintain control of the airplane, due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in a collision with water. Factors relating to the accident were the pilot's failure to obtain a weather briefing before flight, the adverse weather conditions, and the pilot's lack of instrument experience.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-instrument rated pilot departed on a local flight in VFR conditions. A witness stated that he heard the airplane's engine overhead in 'very foggy' conditions. He said he could not see the airplane, until it flew through a break in the fog. Reportedly, the airplane was northbound, it reentered the fog, then it made an abrupt 180 degree turn, followed by impact with the water. Examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact failure of the airframe or engine. An updated AIRMET had been issued for the area; it included a forecast for IFR conditions with the ceiling below 1,000 feet and the visibility below 3 miles, with precipitation, fog and mist. There was no record of a weather briefing obtained by the pilot.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.