Richter Aero Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Essex, New York 12936
Saturday, October 6, 1984 12:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WITNESSES STATED ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE NEAR THE SLIGHT RISE IN THE RWY, APRX 1500 FT DOWN THE RWY, AND CLIMBED TO APRX 60 FT AGL. ACFT SHUTTERED AND NOSE OF ACFT PITCHED UP. LEFT WING AND NOSE THEN DROPPED. ACFT CONTINUED DESCENDING TO THE LEFT ACROSS A SMALL RAVINE WHICH PARALLELED THE RWY, CRASHING INTO THE EASTERLY SIDE OF A RAVINE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED SEAT STOPS WERE NOT FOUND IN PLTS SEAT RAIL. STOP SCREW WAS FOUND ON CABIN FLOOR NEAR LOCATION OF HOLE PROVIDED FOR SEAT STOP IN INBOARD TRACK OF SEAT. 1/2 OF THE BROKEN SEAT STOP WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT CHANNEL OF THE RIGHT PLTS SEAT TRACK APRX 1 INCH FORWARD OF THE INSTALLATION HOLE. THE SEAT TRACK SURFACE WAS SCORED AND ALL HOLES IN THE TRACK WERE ELONGATED. THE SEAT ROLLERS WERE REPLACED IN 1979 DUE TO SLIPPAGE. ACFT CONTAINEDA SEAT SLIPPAGE WARNING PLACARD, 'INSURE AIRCRAFT SEATS ARE POSITIVELY LOCKED BEFORE TAKEOFF AND LANDING.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/6/1984
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1245
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ESSEX
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12936
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RICHTER AERO
Event Location Nearest Airport ID N/84
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 Pilot
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 Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
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 Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 4
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2522
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 26463
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N215NY
NTSB Number NYC85FFA01
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 172I
Aircraft Series Identifier 172I
Aircraft Serial Number 17257083
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Mar 12 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 77
Airframe Hours 4054
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CIVIL AIR PATROL, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City MAXWELL
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CIVIL AIR PATROL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address
Operator City WILLSBORO
Operator State NY
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 12996
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 NY84
Departure City ESSEX
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code NY84
Destination City ESSEX
Destination State NY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 --