Dutchess County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fishkill, New York 12524
Saturday, October 7, 1995 18:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The noninstrument-rated pilot had received several weather briefings which included 'VFR flight not recommended.' He then departed on a local positioning flight. A few minutes after departure he contacted a nearby control tower and requested permission to fly through their airspace. Two minutes later, he requested to land. He was advised to continue with the approach and report a left base. Witnesses heard the airplane flying low with a steady engine, followed by the impact. They reported that fog obscured the tops of the trees and reduced forward visibility to 50 yards. The airplane impacted trees on rising terrain 8 miles south of the airport. Although the ceiling and visibility had improved to marginal VFR at the departure airport, the planned destination remained in instrument meteorological conditions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing factors were the fog and dusk light conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/7/1995
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1855
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City FISHKILL
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12524
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DUTCHESS COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID POU
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 8
Degrees magnetic from airport 190
Airport Elevation 166
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1845 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 10
Weather Observation Facility ID POU
Elevation of weather observation facility 166
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 1000
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2146
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 7 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 25
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:40PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4704F
NTSB Number NYC96FA004
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 P206A
Aircraft Series Identifier P206A
Aircraft Serial Number P206-304
Certified Max Gross Weight 3300
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Sep 8 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4657
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CURTIS C. WOOD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8 GROVE LANE
Aircraft Owner City GREENWICH
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 06831
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GERARD H. WOOD
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 8 GROVE LANE
Operator City GREENWICH
Operator State CT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 06831
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 44N
Departure City MILLBROOK
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1820
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HPN
Destination City WHITE PLAINS
Destination State NY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 --