Piper PA-28-160 accident near Bethel, Maine, September 26, 1992
On September 26, 1992, a Piper PA-28-160, registered N5867W, was destroyed in an accident near Bethel, Maine (Colonel Dyke Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO AVOID THE TERRAIN. THE DARK NIGHT WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 1992
- Place
- Bethel, Maine · Colonel Dyke Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-160 · all PA-28-160s on the register
- Registration
- N5867W · no longer on the register · serial 28-2439
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE CRASHED AT NIGHT ABOUT 2 MI EAST OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE ACCIDENT SITE IS MOUNTAINOUS, AND THE ELEVATION IS ABOUT 600 FT ABOVE THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPORT IS UNATTENDED; THE ONE RUNWAY IS NOT LIGHTED. ACCORDING TO THE SURVIVNG PASSENGER, SHE WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD BE LANDING SHORTLY, AND SOON AFTERWARDS SHE HEARD THE SOUNDS OF THE AIRPLANE STRIKING TREES.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,953 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BHB Bar Harbor ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,150 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from BGR, 95 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
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.