Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Haines Falls, New York 12436
Thursday, May 26, 1983 9:40 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ON THE PREVIOUS DAY, THE PLT HAD FLOWN TO POUGHKEEPSIE, NY. BEFORE HE DEPARTED ON THE RETRUN TRIP, THE MANAGER OF A FLT SCHOOL INFORMED HIM THAT THE WX WAS BAD; HOWEVER, HE TOOK OFF AT ABOUT 0912 EDT. WHILE ENROUTE, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES NEAR THE TOP OF MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 3400 FT. AFTER IMPACT WITH THE 1ST TREE, THE ACFT CONTINUED ABOUT 500 FT BEFORE IT CAME TO REST IN THE WOODED AREA. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS FOUND. STATE POLICE OFFICERS FLYING IN A HELICOPTER REPORTED HEAVY RAIN & LOW CEILINGS IN THE AREA. ABOUT 34 MI NORTH-NORTHEAST AT ALBANY, NY, THE 0948 EDT WX WAS: ESTIMATED 1000 FT OVERCAST, 6 MI VISIBILITY WITH FOG, TEMP 55 DEG, DEW POINT 54 DEG, WIND 60 DEG AT 10 KTS, BREAKS IN OVERCAST WITH HIGHER CLOUDS VISIBLE. THE PLT PREVIOUSLY HAD A STUDENT CERTIFICATE, BUT IT HAD BEEN REVOKED BY THE FAA FOR VIOLATIONS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/26/1983
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 940
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City HAINES FALLS
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12436
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 5
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 7
Degrees magnetic from airport 50
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 948 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 20
Weather Observation Facility ID ALB
Elevation of weather observation facility 285
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 34
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2608
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 22913
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 N1316T
NTSB Number NYC83FA125
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7225460
Certified Max Gross Weight 1950
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 Feb 11 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 49
Airframe Hours 1590
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name REX MILLER DBA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 339 NORTH CALIFORNIA AVE.
Aircraft Owner City WATERTOWN
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 13601
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 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 --
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 POU
Departure City POUGHKEEPSIE
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 912
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ART
Destination City WATERTOWN
Destination State NY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --