Piper PA-23-150 accident near Cortland, NY
On June 14, 1996, a Piper PA-23-150 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Cortland, NY. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 14, 1996
- Place
- Cortland, NY
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-150 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 42.600°N, 76.179°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X06081
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 14, 1996, about 0240 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-23-150, N2189P, struck trees on rising terrain after departure from the Cortland County Airport, Cortland, New York. The airplane was destroyed, and the commercial rated pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and the personal transportation flight was operated on an instrument flight plan under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot had recently accepted new employment and was in the process of moving from Augusta, Maine, to Bar Harbor, Maine. She and her husband had flown from Augusta, to Bowling Green, Ohio, On June 12, 1996, to pickup a relative who would assist them in the move. En route to Bowling Green, the flight had stopped at Cortland for fuel. A witness reported that upon departure from Cortland, the pilot experienced difficulty with starting the left engine; however, once started, it ran smoothly. At Bowling Green, on June 13, 1996, prior to departure, the pilot experienced difficulty with starting both engines. She requested help from a mechanic, who declined due to the lack of available time; however, he did loan her tools to work on the airplane. The return flight to Augusta, departed Bowling Green, on the afternoon of June 13, 1996. Upon arrival at Cortland, the flight was serviced with 66.15 gallons of automotive gasoline which was paid for at 1609. At 1910, the pilot called the Buffalo Flight Service Station for a weather briefing for an IFR flight to Augusta, Maine. She was advised of a line of thunderstorms between Cortland and Augus
Probable cause
the pilot failure to maintain directional control of the airplane which resulted in the airplane striking trees. Contributing factors were the pilot's spatial disorientation, dark night conditions, fog, and the pilot's self induced pressure to reach the destination.
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Browse: New York · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
