Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Linden, New Jersey, September 17, 1984
On September 17, 1984, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N478KT, was destroyed in an accident near Linden, New Jersey (Linden airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 6 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
- September 17, 1984
- Place
- Linden, New Jersey · Linden
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 6 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N478KT · registry record · serial 32R-7780138
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT COLLIDED WITH UTILITY POLE DURING A NIGHT VISUAL LNDG. THE POLE IS LOCATED ABOUT 583' FROM THE RWY THRESHOLD AND IS 58' HIGH. THE POLE WAS UNMARKED. THE PLT MADE 1 PREVIOUS NIGHT LNDG. AT THE ARPT AND 5 TOTAL LNDGS AT THE ARPT. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION TO THE ACFT. THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OR INCAPACITATION OF THE PLT. THE ELT WAS DEFECTIVE AND DID NOT ACTIVATE. A SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED ABOUT 1.5 HR AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND THE ACFT WAS FOUND ON THE ARPT ABOUT 30 MINS LATER.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane
- Flight time: 764 hours in all; 601 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,078 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 1984; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Avco Lycoming IO-540K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1B2 Edgartown MA at 6:45 pm
- Destination: LDJ Linden NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,139 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 am from EWR, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.