Piper PA-24-180 accident near Pomona, New Jersey, August 12, 1983
On August 12, 1983 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-180, registered N7554P, was destroyed in an accident near Pomona, New Jersey. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 1983 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pomona, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-180 · all PA-24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7554P · no longer on the register · serial 24-2762
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING HIS WX BRIEFING, THE PLT WAS ADVISED OF AN AREA OF RAIN SHOWERS & SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLT, AS WELL AS FLT PRECAUTIONS FOR OCCASIONAL MODERATE TURBULENCE BELOW 8000 FT WHICH WAS FORCAST. HE DEPARTED NORFOLK AT 1500. AT ABOUT 1630, THE PLT REPORTED TO ARTCC THAT 'WE'RE IN SOME HEAVY TURBULENCE NOW.' THIS WAS THE LAST RADIO TRANSMISSION. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY WAS OBSERVED SPINNING & TUMBLING BEFORE IMPACT. THE OUTER PANELS OF BOTH WINGSHAD SEPARATED. MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS EXISTED IN THE VICINITY WHERE RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. THE PIC WAS SEATED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE PAX/PLT SEATED IN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT HELD A PRIVATE PLT CERTIFICATE WITH AN AIRPLANE SINGLE-ENG LAND RATING & WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. HE HAD RECEIVED HIS INITIAL FLT INSTRUCTION FROM THE PIC. THE LAST ENTRY IN THE PAX/PLT'S LOG BOOK WAS 5/2/81.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,526 hours in all; 1,428 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 2,395 as pilot in command; 602 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,741 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 4, 1982; 189 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ORF Norfolk VA at 7:02 pm
- Destination: PYM Plymouth MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,800 ft; scat at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:47 pm from ACY, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.