Piper PA-32R-301 accident near Salisbury, Maryland, October 25, 1984
On October 25, 1984, a Piper PA-32R-301, registered N81752, was destroyed in an accident near Salisbury, Maryland (Salisbury-Wicomico airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 1984
- Place
- Salisbury, Maryland · Salisbury-Wicomico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301s on the register
- Registration
- N81752 · no longer on the register · serial 32R8013079
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER CONTACTING MILLVILLE FSS 4 TIMES FOR WX INFO THE ACFT DEPARTED LINCOLN PARK, NY, AT 1858 EDT WITH DESTINATION LISTED ON THE IFR FLT PLAN AS EASTON, MD. EN ROUTE THE PLT DIVERTED TO SALISBURY, MD, DUE TO WX. AFTER BEING CLEARED FORTHE RWY 32 ILS THE ACFT TURNED NORTHWEST INSTEAD OF SOUTHEAST AFTER CROSSING THE VOR & DESCENDED TO BETWEEN 700 AND 900 FT MSL WHILE HEADING AWAY FROM THE ARPT. AFTER BEING REORIENTED THE PLT WAS TOLD TO REPORT AT THE COLBE LOM INBOUND. PLTPROCEEDED TO CALL COLBE WHEN ACTUALLY OVER SALISBURY VOR. N81752 CONTINUED THE APCH CONCLUDING BY STATING HE WAS CIRCLING TO LAND. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ON A NORTHWEST HEADING OFF THE APCH END OF RWY 32. THE PLT HAD OBTAINED HIS INSTRUMENT RATING 3 MONTHS PRIOR AND AT THAT TIME HAD LOGGED 34 INSTRUMENT HOURS AND 21 NIGHT HOURS. POST CRASH FIRE DESTROYED THE MAJORITY OF THE FUSELAGE, HOWEVER, EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT AND ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE AFFECTED NORMAL OPERATION.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: N07 Lincoln Park NJ at 10:58 pm
- Destination: SBY Salisbury MD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 32, 5,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.