Inflight Breakup Indicated

A National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) preliminary report suggests an inflight breakup preceded the May 31, 2006, crash that killed the pilot and three passengers aboard a Piper Dakota near Manahawkin, NJ.

The report states the non-instrument-rated private pilot was turning back for Old Bridge Airport (3N6) after determining weather would prevent him from reaching the intended destination of Bader Field (AIY) in Atlantic City, NJ. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no VFR flight plan was filed for the flight.

About 20 minutes after departing Old Bridge, the pilot contacted the Atlantic City Approach Control facility, asked for flight following services, and advised he would be proceeding back to Old Bridge. The controller acknowledged the call, and advised him to contact another controller on a different frequency. After establishing contact with the second controller, the pilot was advised to change his transponder code for positive identification. No further communications were received from the pilot.

Preliminary radar data depict two returns in the vicinity of the accident site, the first at 3,700 feet MSL, and the second about four seconds later at 1,600 feet.

Several witnesses reported hearing a loud sound, similar to an explosion, and seeing pieces of the airplane falling to the ground before the airplane itself impacted trees and terrain.

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land and had 193 total hours of flight experience-34 in the accident airplane make and model.

FMI: Read The NTSB Preliminary Report