Private Unlisted Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Watertown, New York 13601
Tuesady, April 27, 1999 20:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the student pilot, he and the certified flight instructor (CFI) were returning to the airstrip, after practicing takeoffs and landings at a nearby airport. The CFI flew the approach to the grass runway. The student pilot stated that they did not experience any difficulties with the airplane, and everything 'looked normal.' While on final approach, the airplane collided with utility wires, and the student pilot had no further recollection of the accident. The airplane impacted the grass runway, and came to rest inverted. Although the CFI's medical certificate listed a restriction for corrective lenses, he was not wearing any during the flight. Additionally, the airplane was not equipped with shoulder harnesses.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot-in-command misjudged altitude, which resulted in an in-flight collision with utility wires at the approach end of the airstrip. A factor was the pilot's failure to wear his corrective lenses.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/27/1999
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2015
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WATERTOWN
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 13601
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PRIVATE UNLISTED AIRSTRIP
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 512
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2050 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID ART
Elevation of weather observation facility 325
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 279
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 27 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8426J
NTSB Number NYC99FA098
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 150G
Aircraft Series Identifier 150G
Aircraft Serial Number 15066362
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RICHLAND SOLO CLUB
Aircraft Owner Street Address RURAL ROUTE 4, BOX 63
Aircraft Owner City WATERTOWN
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 13601
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT A. MOORE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 28254 STATE ROUTE 37
Operator City WATERTOWN
Operator State NY
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 13601
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code ART
Departure City
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 2005
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --