Piper PA-34-200T accident near Old Bridge, New Jersey, March 13, 2006
On March 13, 2006 at about 3:20 am local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N8446F, was destroyed in an accident near Old Bridge, New Jersey (Old Bridge Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to conduct visual approach and landing in instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees and terrain during the go-around. Factors in the accident were the low cloud ceiling and fog conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 13, 2006 · about 3:20 am local time
- Place
- Old Bridge, New Jersey · Old Bridge Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8446F · no longer on the register · serial 34-7770084
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to radar data and witnesses, the airplane entered the airport traffic pattern and attempted to land on the runway. The pilot then executed a go-around, performed a climbing right turn, and impacted trees and terrain shortly thereafter. The weather conditions reported around time of the accident included 1/8 to 1/4 mile visibility in fog. The pilot did not hold an instrument rating. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact malfunctions. With regard to night-flight in poor or marginal weather conditions, the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-3 states, "The pilot flying under [visual flight rules] VFR must exercise caution to avoid flying into clouds or a layer of fog.… Remember that if a descent must be made through fog, smoke, or haze in order to land, the horizontal visibility is considerably less then when looking through the restriction than it is when looking straight down through it from above. Under no circumstances should a VFR night-flight be made during poor or marginal weather conditions unless both the pilot and the aircraft are certificated and equipped for flight under instrument flight rules (IFR)."
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,657 hours in all
- Last flight review: January 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,027 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2006; 18.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,750 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-E (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CRE Myrtle Beach SC at 11:34 pm
- Destination: 3N6 Old Bridge NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,594 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 100 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 am from BLM, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.