Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Claryville, New York 12725
Tuesady, April 23, 1985 11:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT IMPACTED TREES DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG DUE TO THE PLTS EST OF A LOW FUEL STATE. THE FLT HAD PROCEEDED R ENROUTE TO AN INTENDED DEST OF OXFORD ME FROM FREDERICK MD WITHOUT FILLING A FLT PLAN. AFTER APRX 3 HRS OF FLYING ON A 60 DEGREE MAG HDG THE PLT DECIDED TO DESCEND THROUGH THE CLOUD DECK TO LOOK FOR AN ARPT TO REFUEL OR A FIELD FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LNDGING DUE TO LOW FUEL STATE. THE DESCENT WAS MADE FROM 9500 FT TO 3500 FT FINALLY IN DETERIORATING WX. CLARYVILLE NY WAS CIRCLED A FEW TIMES IN AN ATTEMPT AT ORIGINATION. THE PLT NEVER USED THE RADIO,HE SAID.TO TRY FOR 2 WAY COMMUNICATION FOR NAV AID. AN ATTEMPT TO LAND IN A FIELD NW OF CLARYVILLE ENDED IN AN OVERSHOOT & ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND BEFORE FLYING UNDER WIRES & STRIKING TREES. THE ACFT WAS IMPALED ABOUT 12 FT AGL. THE PLT STATED THAT HE NEVER CONSIDERED MAKING A 180 DEGREE TURN DURING THE DETERIORATING WX EVEN THOUGH HE WAS UNSURE OF HIS POSITION WHEN STARTING THE DESCENT FROM 9500 FT. ONE WING TANK WAS RUPTURED IN THE CRASH & THE PLT COULD NOT EST FUEL REMAINING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/23/1985
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City CLARYVILLE
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12725
Event Date Year 1985
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 303
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 23 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1245
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 27652
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3401T
NTSB Number NYC85FFA02
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 177
Aircraft Series Identifier 177
Aircraft Serial Number 17700701
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
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 Apr 4 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 1988
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ARLIN J. HOLT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 16 MAPLE ST.
Aircraft Owner City NORWAY
Aircraft Owner State ME
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 04268
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 FDK
Departure City FREDERICK
Departure State MD
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --