Potsdam Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Potsdam, New York 13676
Friday, May 17, 1985 8:49 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BREIFING AND FILED AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN WITH MASSENA FLIGHT SERVICE STATION. THE FLIGHT WAS UNEVENTFUL AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLEARED FOR THE NDB APPROACH AT POTSDAM BY BOSTON CENTER. WHEN THE AIRPORT WAS IN SIGHT, THE PILOT CNACELLED THE FLIGHT PLAN AND PROCEEDED VFR TO THE AIRPORT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE LANDING CHECKLIST WAS STARTED AND THE FLAPS EXTENDED TO 25 DEGREES. AS N3548V CROSSED THE THRESHOLD, THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED AND THE PILOT CHECK ALL CONTROLS PHYSICALLY. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE WAS ALSO CHECKED. SHORTLY BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTING THE RUNWAY,THE LANDING GEAR WARNING HORN SOUNDED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/17/1985
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 849
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City POTSDAM
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 13676
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport POTSDAM MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PTD
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 474
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 815 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MSS
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 7000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1381
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 17 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1420
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28740
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3548V
NTSB Number NYC85LA126
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31-350
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-31-350
Aircraft Serial Number 31-8052029
Certified Max Gross Weight 7000
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 10
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 10 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 3749
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name T. HANGER ASSOCIATES
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 206
Aircraft Owner City SYRACUSE
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 13211
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SAIR AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address
Operator City SYRACUSE
Operator State NY
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 13203
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SYR
Departure City SYRACUSE
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 805
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 24
Runway Length 3100
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --