Piper PA31 accident near Newport, Rhode Island, February 5, 2016
On February 5, 2016, a 1981 Piper PA31, registered N102WM, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Newport, Rhode Island (Newport State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An inadvertent collision with birds during final approach at night.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 5, 2016
- Place
- Newport, Rhode Island · Newport State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA31 350, built 1981 · all PA31s on the register
- Registration
- N102WM · registry record · serial 31-8152112
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported during night visual meteorological conditions, he struck multiple birds at an altitude of about 300 to 400 feet above ground on final approach. The pilot continued the approach and landed without further incident. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded 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
What happened, in order
- Birdstrike during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,599 hours in all; 1,847 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,238 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 8, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,638.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 3, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TIO-540-52BD (piston); 4,221 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming LTIO-540 52BD (piston); 2,763 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FRG Farmingdale NY at 11:30 pm
- Destination: UUU Newport RI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 04, 2,999 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KUUU, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.