Piper PA-32R accident near Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, June 5, 1984
On June 5, 1984 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R, registered N5870V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rehoboth Beach, Delaware (Rehoboth Beach airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- June 5, 1984 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Rehoboth Beach, Delaware · Rehoboth Beach
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R · all PA-32Rs on the register
- Registration
- N5870V · registry record · serial 32R7780-370
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BASED ON ERRONEOUS INFORMATION PIC ASSUMED ROAD CONSTRUCTION WAS WORK TO PAVE GRASS STRIP. HE LANDED ON A ROAD BEING CONSTRUCTED IN A HOUSING EXPANSION AREA. DURING LANDING ROLL THE LEFT MAIN GEAR BROKE OFF AFTER CONTACTING A DIRT MOUND.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,088 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 1,883 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,937 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 28, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N68 Chambersburg PA at 2:35 pm
- Destination: REH Rehoboth Beach PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 30, 2,790 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.