Piper PA28 accident near Pittstown, New Jersey, August 6, 2017
On August 6, 2017 at about 2:30 am local time, a 1973 Piper PA28, registered N56884, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Pittstown, New Jersey (Sky Manor airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 2017 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Pittstown, New Jersey · Sky Manor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 140, built 1973 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N56884 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7425057
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach defining event
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Student/instructed pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Effect on operation
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Recent experience › Student/instructed pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 105 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 35 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,791 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 17, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 970 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1N7 Blairstown NJ at 2:10 am
- Destination: N40 Pittstown NJ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 7, 2,900 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from SMQ, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on November 17, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Passenger Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Interview Summaries | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Flight Instructor Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Excerpt from FAA radar Playback (4 Min, 15MB, MP4) | video | View Download |
| 6 | Map of Accident Site | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.