Piper PA-31S 2 accident near Rockland, Maine, May 12, 1984
On May 12, 1984 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-31S 2, registered N700D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rockland, Maine (Rockland Knox CO. airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- May 12, 1984 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Rockland, Maine · Rockland Knox CO.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31S 2 · all PA-31S 2s on the register
- Registration
- N700D · no longer on the register · serial 31-7512003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING THE RWY 03 LOC APCH PLT DECIDED TO LAND STRAIGHT IN WITH A TAILWIND RATHER THAN CIRCLING BECAUSE OF LOW CLOUDS SURROUNDING THE ARPT. ACFT TOUCHED DOWN WITH APRX 2000 FT OF WET RWY REMAINING. ACFT TRAVELED OFF END OF RWY UNTIL IT CONTACTED AN EMBANKMENT. PLT STATED, HE THOUGHT THE FLAPS WERE RAISED DURING THE LANDING ROLL TO ASSIST IN THE BRAKING ACTION BUT LATER DISCOVERED THEY WERE STILL 1/2 EXTENDED AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,925 hours in all; 6,660 in this make and model; 8,788 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 18, 1984; 3,833 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LEW Lewiston ME
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 30, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 198° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from NHZ, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.