Piper PA-23-250 N5464Y

Summary

On 29 August 1997 at about 16:45 local time, a Piper PA-23-250 registered N5464Y, operated by William Slack, was involved in an accident near Baptistown, New Jersey, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 August 1997 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Baptistown, New Jersey, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-23-250

Registration

N5464Y

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

William Slack

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pittstown → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC97FA172

1 person died.

failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane for undetermined reason(s), while operating it at low altitude.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was performing a postmaintenance evaluation flight with two recently overhauled engines and propellers. Witnesses observed the airplane at a low altitude, with the engines operating at high power. One witness, a pilot, reported that the speed was 'fast and not near a stall or Vmc.' The airplane was observed to roll right and descended into a wooded area. The fuselage and wings were fragmented. Cut wood and impact marks corresponding to both engines were found at the accident site. A check of the airplane failed to reveal a mechanical failure or malfunction. A review of logbooks revealed no recent maintenance to the flight control system. A check with the pilot's doctors revealed no outstanding medical problems.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.