Piper J58 accident near Gilead, Maine, July 29, 1984
On July 29, 1984 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper J58, registered N38402, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gilead, Maine. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 1984 · about 4:30 pm local time · cases in 1984
- Place
- Gilead, Maine
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J58
- Registration
- N38402 · registry record · serial 5-952
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS FORCED TO LAND ACCORDING TO THE PLT, AFTER A DOWNDRAFT AT LOW ALT & AIRSPEED CREATED A TRAP. THE PLT SAID THAT HE & A FRIEND WERE LOOKING FOR A FISHING SPOT, WHEN HE REALIZED THAT HE COULD NOT MAKE IT OVER THE TOP OF RISING TERRAIN AHEAD & COULD NOT TURN 180 DEGREES TO REVERSE HIS FLT PATH. A DECISION TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD WAS MADE. DURING THE LANDING THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 217 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 190 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Bethel ME at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N38402 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper 44,840 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 82 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Maine 532 since 1982 · 69 in the last ten years
- Maine 1,425 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/NYC84LA258.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.