Piper PA-28-236 accident near Alton, New Hampshire, January 17, 1997
On January 17, 1997 at about 6:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-236, registered N8263Y, was destroyed in an accident near Alton, New Hampshire. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An exhaust gas leak, due to inadequate maintenance, which resulted in carbon monoxide poisoning, and incapacitation of the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 17, 1997 · about 6:35 pm local time
- Place
- Alton, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-236 · all PA-28-236s on the register
- Registration
- N8263Y · no longer on the register · serial 28-8111001
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and pilot rated passenger (PRP) were on a cross country flight, when 25 minutes into the flight the PRP radioed ATC that the pilot was sick. ATC and the pilot of another airplane attempted to talk the PRP down, but after about 20 minutes the PRP reported being tired and nauseated. No further transmissions were received from the airplane, and it flew an additional 1 1/2 hours before it descended into a heavily wooded area. Examination of the wreckage revealed cracks and heavy pitting corrosion of the muffler case which allowed exhaust gases to enter the space between the muffler and the shroud, and to enter the cabin area. Toxicological tests showed that the pilot and the PRP had carbon monoxide levels of 43% and 69%. The airplane had an annual inspection completed 1 year prior to the accident, and had accumulated over 88 hours since the inspection.
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: 870 hours in all; 686 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 758 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,626 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 17, 1996; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FRG Farmingdale NY at 4:15 pm
- Destination: SLK Saranac Lake NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 14 knots, gusting 33
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 9°F (-13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from CON, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.