Orange County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Montgomery, New York 12549
Sunday, May 30, 1999 15:46 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Radar data depicted an airplane flying a track similar to a right traffic pattern for the runway. While on a track consistent with a right base leg, the airplane entered a left turn. About the same time as the accident, witnesses reported seeing an airplane fly a right base leg for the runway. The airplane entered a steep left bank, followed by an abrupt descent angle, and collision with terrain. A review of recorded radio transmissions revealed the pilot of the accident airplane flew a right hand pattern for the runway. The pilot queried a pilot of another airplane of his intentions. At that time, the other airplane was ahead of the accident airplane, on a final approach leg. The accident airplane then entered the left turn. A radar study indicated that while in the left turn, the approximate airspeed of the accident airplane was approaching or below the stall speed for the make and model airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering in the traffic pattern, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/30/1999
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1546
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MONTGOMERY
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12549
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ORANGE COUNTY AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MGJ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 4
Degrees magnetic from airport 30
Airport Elevation 365
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1545 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 110
Weather Observation Facility ID SWF
Elevation of weather observation facility 491
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2
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) 1350
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 30 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1630
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N401JD
NTSB Number NYC99FA126
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 Beech
Aircraft Model D50C
Aircraft Series Identifier D50C
Aircraft Serial Number DH-272
Certified Max Gross Weight 6300
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 7 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 51
Airframe Hours 4809
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN F DONATO
Aircraft Owner Street Address 66 WILSON AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City NEWARK
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07105
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 N82
Departure City WURTSBORO
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1515
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MGJ
Destination City MONTGOMERY
Destination State NY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
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 21
Runway Length 5006
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --