Rensselaer County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Troy, New York 12180
Saturday, June 4, 1994 14:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 36 WHEN IT SUDDENLY ENCOUNTERED A CHANGE IN WIND DIRECTION. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO SINK AND DRIFTED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE APPLIED POWER TO ARREST THE SINK RATE. HE STATED THAT HE TRIED TO ALIGN THE AIRPLANE WITH THE CENTERLINE, BUT HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK A TREE AND SPUN THE AIRCRAFT AROUND. ACCORDING TO THE FAA, THE REPORTED WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE 290 DEGREES AT 13 KNOTS GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION, AND THAT THE TREES WERE REMOVED BY OTHER PILOTS SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT THE WIND REVERSAL AND WIND SHEAR CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH A TREE. A FACTOR IS CROSSWINDS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/4/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City TROY
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12180
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RENSSELAER COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 5B7
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 440
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1350 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID ALB
Elevation of weather observation facility 285
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 45
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1319
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 4 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1650
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:26AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2480J
NTSB Number BFO94LA089
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150
Aircraft Series Identifier 150
Aircraft Serial Number 15065580
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 7 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 3502
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MICHAEL A DWYER
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR1 BOX 1004
Aircraft Owner City POESTENKILL
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 12140
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MICHAEL A DWYER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RR1 BOX 1004
Operator City POESTENKILL
Operator State NY
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 12140
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
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 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 2670
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --