Piper PA28 N56884

Summary

On 6 August 2017 at about 02:30 local time, a Piper PA28 registered N56884 was involved in an accident near Pittstown, New Jersey, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 August 2017 at 02:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Pittstown, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Sky Manor (N40)

Coordinates

40.4075, -74.9661

Aircraft

Piper PA28

Registration

N56884

Category

Airplane

Year built

1973

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Blairstown → Pittstown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

ERA17LA267

2 people were seriously injured.

The student pilot's improper decision to conduct a night flight and his failure to maintain adequate altitude during the approach, which resulted in controlled flight into trees and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's lack of total and recent night flight experience.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot owned the airplane and intended to conduct a 20-minute night, cross-country flight to a nearby airport for avionics installation. During a circling descent to the destination airport, the airplane collided with trees and terrain, which resulted in a postcrash fire. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The student had a total flight experience of 105 hours, of which 5 hours were at night. He had not flown during the 90-day period preceding the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.