Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cohocton, New York 14826
Tuesady, June 27, 1995 9:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Witnesses observed the airplane maneuvering at an estimated altitude of 1,000 to 1,500 feet above the ground. They reported that the airplane began a right turn, then entered a spin and descended into terrain. The witnesses stated that the ceiling was low and that moments after the accident it began to '...pour down rain.' Prior to the flight, the non-instrument rated private pilot received a complete weather briefing from a flight service station. During the briefing the pilot was told '...whole route for IFR conditions and mountain obscuration just about the second 2/3's of your route.' Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a turn which led to an inadvertent stall/spin. Related factors were the low ceiling, and the non-instrument rated pilot's flight into known adverse weather.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/27/1995
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 955
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City COHOCTON
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14826
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 959 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 127
Weather Observation Facility ID ELM
Elevation of weather observation facility 955
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 37
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1600
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1475
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 27 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:19PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Unknown
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N15124
NTSB Number BFO95FA075
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-180
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7305026
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 13 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 3868
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STRAFFORD FLYING CLUB INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR1 BOX 161D
Aircraft Owner City NORTHWOOD
Aircraft Owner State NH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 03261
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 No
Departure Airport Code ITH
Departure City ITHACA
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 945
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ERI
Destination City ERIE
Destination State PA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --