Piper PA-28-161 accident near Cape May, New Jersey, August 9, 1985
On August 9, 1985 at about 1:40 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N3462M, was destroyed in an accident near Cape May, New Jersey. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- August 9, 1985 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Cape May, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N3462M · no longer on the register · serial 287816344
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
CREW MEMBERS OF A COAST GUARD HELICOPTER, OBSERVED AN ACFT FLYING AT ABOUT 1500 FT ABOVE THE WATER. ACCORDING TO THEM, THE ACFT PITCHED DOWN INTO A 60 TO 70 DEG NOSE LOW ATTITUDE & COLLIDED WITH THE WATER. THE HELICOPTER WAS IMMEDIATELY FLOWN TO THE ACDNT SITE; HOWEVER, THE DOWNED ACFT COULD NOT BE SEEN. LATER, THE FATALLY INJURED PLT & DEBRIS FROM THE ACFT WERE FOUND, BUT THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS NOT LOCATED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 306 hours in all; 118 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 218 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,309 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 18, 1985; 517 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southern Jersey Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: ILG Wilmington DE
- Destination: 26N Ocean City NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.