Piper PA-31-350 accident near Oneonta, New York, March 22, 1984
On March 22, 1984, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N27886, was destroyed in an accident near Oneonta, New York (Oneonta Muni. airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 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
- March 22, 1984
- Place
- Oneonta, New York · Oneonta Muni. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N27886 · no longer on the register · serial 31-7952024
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA AFTER THE LOSS OF ENG POWER. THE WX WAS VMC. THE PLT MADE A MISSED APPROACH AFTER TRYING TO LAND ON RWY AT ONEONTA, AT 1838 HRS. LATER THE PLT RADIOED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO 'PICK UP' THE KRING BEACON. BOSTON CENTER VECTORED THE FLT TO THE AREA OF THE KRING BEACON. THE PLT THEN PROCEEDED TO QUESTION HIS POSITION. WHEN BOSTON TERMINATED RADAR SERVICE THE PLTS ANSWER WAS UNINTELLIGIBLE. NO FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS WERE RECEIVED FROM THE FLT. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM THE ARPT. THE LEFT FULL TANK SELECTOR WAS FOUND ON THE LEFT OUTBOARD TANK. THIS ACFT IS RESTRICTED TO LEVEL FLT FOR USE OF FUEL FROM THE OUTBOARD TANKS.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,699 hours in all; 509 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 12 as pilot in command; 12 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,065 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-52BD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PHF
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 3,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 130° at 26 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.