Rensselaer Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Poestenkill, New York 12140
Saturday, January 16, 1993 16:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE PERFORMED A THOROUGH PREFLIGHT INSPECTION AND RUN UP PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. DURING INITIAL CLIMBOUT, THE ENGINE 'DIED' AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE HIT A DIRT BANK AND WAS DAMAGED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT FUEL WAS AVAILABLE TO THE ENGINE AND NO DISCREPANCIES WITH ANY OF THE FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS WERE NOTED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING A FLIGHT EIGHT DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE ENGINE 'SPUTTERED' WHEN IN A CLIMB ATTITUDE. THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER WHEN IN LEVEL FLIGHT OR WITH THE AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP ON. AFTER THAT FLIGHT, A MECHANIC CHECKED THE AIRPLANE, BUT FOUND NO DISCREPANCY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/16/1993
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City POESTENKILL
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12140
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RENSSELAER AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 5B7
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 440
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1550 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
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 EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3200
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 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) 299
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 16 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 52223
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:06PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7804W
NTSB Number BFO93LA022
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-180
Aircraft Serial Number 28-1795
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 Nov 20 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 2522
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THOMAS F. ZIMMIE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 39 ZELENKE DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City TROY
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 12180
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name THOMAS F. ZIMMIE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 39 ZELENKE DRIVE
Operator City TROY
Operator State NY
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 12180
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 5B7
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 5B7
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 --