Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Naples, New York 14512
Tuesady, April 2, 1991 17:19 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT MADE A DEPARTURE AND WAS CLEARED TO CLIMB TO 9000 FT. DURING THE LAST PORTION OF THE CLIMB, THE RATE OF CLIMB DECREASED. AFTER REACHING 8000 FT, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A DESCENT TO 4100 FT, THEN IT CLIMBED TO 5100 FT. THE AIRPLANE THEN ENTERED ANOTHER DESCENT, LEVELED OFF AT 3800 FT AND DISPPEARED FROM RADAR. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED AND CRASHED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. WITNESSES REPORTED THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING AT A HIGH POWER SETTING BEFORE IMPACT. NO PREIMPCT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. ICING CONDITIONS WERE PRESENT AND THE PILOT HAD COMMENTED ABOUT ENCOUNTERING ICE ON HIS PREVIOUS FLIGHT (TO ROCHESTER). THERE WERE REPORTS OF MODERATE RIME ICING FROM AN MD-80 AND A BEECH 99.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN STRUCTURAL (WING) ICE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. THE WEATHER CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/2/1991
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1719
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City NAPLES
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14512
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 4
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1650 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID ROC
Elevation of weather observation facility 559
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 16
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1597
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 2 1991 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45224
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:46AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3667W
NTSB Number NYC91FA099
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32-260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-260
Aircraft Serial Number 32-575
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 6
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 Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RICHARD G STUTSMAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 326 THIRD ST.
Aircraft Owner City LAKEWOOD
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 08701
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RICHARD G. STUTESMAN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 326 THIRD STREET
Operator City LAKEWOOD
Operator State NJ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 08701
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 ROC
Departure City ROCHESTER
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code N12
Destination City LAKEWOOD
Destination State NJ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --