# Accident 20260526009059A: Piper PA-25-235, Ballston Spa, NY, May 26, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 26, 2026, 13:47 local time
- Place: Ballston Spa, NY
- Airport: Saratoga County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.0536° N, 73.8656° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0536&lon=-73.8656&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8656L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8656L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-25-235 (registry code 7102504, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-235
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 13,120 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA26FA214](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26FA214) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260526009059A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON MAY 26, 2026, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ A SINGLE ENGINE PA-25 WAS TOWING AN ASW-27 ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AT SARATOGA COUNTY AIRPORT (5B2). WHILE CLIMBING THE GLIDER EXPERIENCED A "KITING" EVENT AND FAILED TO DISCONNECT FROM THE PA-25. THE TOW LINE WAS A 3/8" TOW ROPE WITH A SINGLE "WEAK LINK" MADE OF SIMILAR ROPE WAS FOUND MOSTLY INTACT WITH SOME MELTING AT THE END CLOSEST TO THE PA-25. THE FAILURE TO DISCONNECT RESULTED IN THE TOWPLANES’ TAIL BEING LIFTED UP AND THE NOSE PITCHING DOWN. THIS NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AT LOW ALTITUDE RESULTED IN THE TOWPLANE IMPACTING RUNWAY 32 AT 5B2 WITH SUBSEQUENT POST-CRASH FIRE.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N321ER, Schleicher ASW-27: [Accident 20260526008219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260526008219A)

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA26FA214](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26FA214), May 26, 2026: Piper PA-25-235 (N8656L), Saratoga Springs, NY, substantial damage, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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