White Birch Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tompkins, New York 13754
Saturday, October 25, 2014 13:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On October 25, 2014, about 1330 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22-150, N8064Y, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a road in Tompkins, New York, following a total loss of engine power during initial climb from White Birch Field (NK68), Hancock, New York. The private pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The pilot reported that he completed a preflight inspection of the airplane, which included checking the fuel for water. The preflight inspection and engine run-up did not reveal any anomalies. The pilot intended to takeoff and remain in the airport traffic pattern for landing. During takeoff, about 300 feet above ground level and 100 feet beyond the end of the 1,910-foot long turf runway, the engine lost and regained power about three times. The pilot applied carburetor heat, but the engine then lost all power. The airplane was too low to attempt a return to the airport and the left wing subsequently struck a tree during an attempted forced landing to a road. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the wings and forward fuselage. Further examination of the wreckage was planned following its recovery from the road.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/25/2014
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Tompkins
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 13754
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 420260N
Event Location Longitude 0752020W
Event Location Airport White Birch Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NK68
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1860
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID BGM
Elevation of weather observation facility 1636
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 19
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.7
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source FAA Eastern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 3 2014 4:03PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8064Y
NTSB Number ERA15LA029
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA 22-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 22-7436
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? --
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HUNTER ALFRED J
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City HANCOCK
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 137830727
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name HUNTER ALFRED J
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City HANCOCK
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 137830727
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 NK68
Departure City Hancock
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code NK68
Destination City Hancock
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 3 2014 4:03PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --