Piper PA-28-236 accident near Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, October 19, 1985
On October 19, 1985 at about 11:47 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-236, registered N4298K, was destroyed in an accident near Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 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
- October 19, 1985 · about 11:47 pm local time
- Place
- Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-236 · all PA-28-236s on the register
- Registration
- N4298K · no longer on the register · serial 28-8311018
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT ABOUT THE TIME N4298K WAS DEPARTING POCONO MOUNTAINS MUN ICIPAL AIRPORT, RECORDED RADAR INFORMATION FROM NEW YORK ARTCC DISPLAYED AN AIRCRAFT IN THAT AREA. THE AIRCRAFT FLEW EASTWARD AND THEN NORTHWARD. THE AIRCRAFT DISAPPEARED FROM THE RADAR SCREEN ABOUT THREE MILES NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. N4298K WAS LOCATED ABOUT ONE HALF OF A MILE FROM THAT AIRCRAFT'S LAST POSITION. ACCORDING TO WEATHER OBSERVATIONS AND WITNESS IN THE AREA, THE CEILING WAS AT 1100 FEET AND VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED BY FOG AROUND POCONO MOUNTAINS AIRPORT AT ABOUT THE TIME N4298K DEPARTED.
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: 151 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 85 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 868 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 22, 1985; 63 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3A5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: General Aviation CO.
The flight
- Departed from: MPO Mount Pocono PA at 11:42 pm
- Destination: TEB Teterboro NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 350° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,100 ft; clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from AVP, 17 miles away
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.