Adirondack Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Harrietstown, New York 12983
Friday, April 2, 2004 19:25 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Arriving in the area of the destination airport, the weather was reported as, 1-3/4 statute miles of visibility; light snow, mist; overcast cloud layer at 200 feet; temperature of 34 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot performed an ILS procedure towards the runway. An employee at the airport received a radio transmission from the accident airplane, requesting a current altimeter setting. The employee replied back with the current altimeter setting. Moments later, the employee heard a transmission from the airplane that it was on a 4 mile final for the ILS approach. No further transmissions were received from the airplane. The airplane came to rest in a wooded area, about 3/4-mile from the runway threshold, about 300 feet right of the extended centerline. Review of the approach plate for the ILS approach revealed that the minimum glide slope intercept altitude at the beginning of the final approach segment on the precision approach was 4,300 feet msl. The glide slope altitude at the final approach fix for the non-precision approach, which was located about 4 miles from the approach end of the runway, was 3,619 feet msl. The glide slope altitude at the middle marker, which was located about 0.4 miles from the approach end of the runway, was 1,853 feet msl. Review of recovered GPS data revealed that about 1.75 miles from the runway, the airplane turned to the left of the final approach course. When the airplane was about 1/2 mile left of the final approach course, it began a turn to the right towards the final approach course. The last GPS data point was recorded about 5,073 feet from the runway threshold, along the final approach course, at an altitude of 1,765 feet msl. The elevation at the airport was 1,663 feet msl. Review of the pilot's logbook revealed times spans in excess of 6 months, where the pilot did not record 6 instrument approaches or IFR holding procedures. The pilot's last recorded instrument flight proficiency flight was dated October 26, 1996. According to Federal Aviation Regulations, Part 61.57 Recent flight experience, pilot-in-command, "...no person may act as pilot in command under IFR or in weather conditions less than the minimums prescribed for VFR, unless within the preceding 6 calendar months, that person has...performed and logged under actual or simulated instrument conditions, at least six instrument approaches, holding procedures, and intercepting and tracking courses through the use of navigation systems...a person who does not meet the instrument experience requirements within the prescribed time, or within 6 calendar months after the prescribed time, may not serve as pilot in command under IFR or in weather conditions less than the minimums prescribed for VFR until that person passes an instrument proficiency check..."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to follow instrument flight rules procedures resulting in a collision with a tree. Factors related to the accident were the dark night conditions, low visibility, and low cloud ceiling.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/2/2004
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1925
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Harrietstown
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12983
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 442433N
Event Location Longitude 0741142W
Event Location Airport Adirondack Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SLK
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.75
Degrees magnetic from airport 50
Airport Elevation 1663
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1924 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 230
Weather Observation Facility ID SLK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1663
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1.75
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.75
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 18641
NTSB Notification Source NROC
NTSB Notification Date Apr 2 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2150
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 27 2005 6:51AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Albany, NY

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4686J
NTSB Number NYC04FA100
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28R-180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-30587
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 3108
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Paul N. Gurlich
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Tupper Lake
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 12986
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 JYO
Departure City Leesburg
Departure State VA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code SLK
Destination City Harriettstown
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - final approach fix (FAF)/outer marker to threshold (IFR)
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 19 2005 3:08PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --