Piper PA-28-180 accident near York, Pennsylvania, April 18, 1987
On April 18, 1987, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N7987W, was destroyed in an accident near York, Pennsylvania (York-Thomasville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- April 18, 1987
- Place
- York, Pennsylvania · York-Thomasville
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7987W · no longer on the register · serial 28-2044
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIPER PA-28-180 WAS MAKING AN NDB INSTRUMENT APPROACH UNDER INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AT NIGHT. THE PILOT MANUEVERED THE AIRCRAFT OVER THE AIRPORT SEVERAL TIMES IN AN APPARENT ATTEMPT TO ACQUIRE VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY, LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND IMPACTED LEVEL TERRAIN NEXT TO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT FAILED TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE. A FEW MINUTES AFTER THE NOISE OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS NO LONGER HEARD, THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND AT THE EDGE OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE FATALLY INJURED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY A HIGH SPEED IMPACT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BASED AT THE AIRPORT WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
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: 500 hours in all; 497 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 460 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,878 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 1986; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRW Charleston WV
- Destination: THV York PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 16, 4,190 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
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.