Skaneateles Aero Drome Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Skaneateles, New York 13152
Friday, April 18, 2008 11:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to a witness, he was outside in his yard when he saw the accident airplane flying north of his house. The airplane then turned on its side and continued to descend. Shortly thereafter, he heard the engine “rev-up,” and the next thing he heard was a “crunching noise.” He drove in the direction of the airport, and saw the tail of the airplane in a wooded area. The paramedics stated that the certified flight instructor (CFI) was alert, conscious and oriented. The CFI told them that he and the private pilot were simulating an engine failure and that he “lost airspeed thus causing the crash.” The CFI did not report any flight control or mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Examination of the airframe and flight control system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. Examination of the engine and system components revealed no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The certified flight instructor's failure to maintain airspeed during a steep turn.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/18/2008
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1155
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Skaneateles
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 13152
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 430700N
Event Location Longitude 0760829W
Event Location Airport SKANEATELES AERO DROME
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 6B9
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1038
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1154 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 51
Weather Observation Facility ID SYR
Elevation of weather observation facility 421
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24897
NTSB Notification Source FAA Eastern ROC
NTSB Notification Date Apr 18 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 7 2009 10:41AM
User who most recently changed record grer
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Rochester FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N14037
NTSB Number MIA08FA091
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AeroFab
Aircraft Model Lake LA-250
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 39
Certified Max Gross Weight 3140
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 24 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1964.1
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Leslie D Woodcock
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Cazenovia
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 13035
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Leslie D Woodcock
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Cazenovia
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 13035
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SYR
Departure City SYRACUSE
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 6B9
Destination City SKANEATELES
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - VFR pattern - final approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 7 2009 10:41AM
User who most recently changed record grer
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 10
Runway Length 3134
Runway Width 58
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --