Piper PA-28-236 accident near Atlantic City, New Jersey, November 17, 1984
On November 17, 1984 at about 1:42 am local time, a Piper PA-28-236, registered N2831Y, was destroyed in an accident near Atlantic City, New Jersey (Unknown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 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
- November 17, 1984 · about 1:42 am local time
- Place
- Atlantic City, New Jersey · Unknown
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-236 · all PA-28-236s on the register
- Registration
- N2831Y · no longer on the register · serial 28-7911195
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ANOTHER AIRCRAFT IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE PILOT EXTENDED THE DOWNLEG LEG LEG. DURING THE TURN TO ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE RUNWAY THE PILOT SUFFERED A DISABLING HEART ATTACK. UNABLE TO RECOVER THE AIRCRAFT FROM ITS DESCENT IT ENTERED THE WATER AT A NOSE DOWN ANGLE OF APPROXIMATELY 80 DEGREES.
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: 200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 604 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 14, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-53A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FRG Farmingdale NY
- Destination: AIY Atlantic City NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 290° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:10 pm from AIY, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.