# NTSB ERA26FA214: Piper PA-25-235, N8656L, Saratoga Springs, NY, May 26, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report - Date: May 26, 2026, 13:47 local (17:47 UTC) - Place: Saratoga Springs, NY · 5B2 airport property runway 32 - Coordinates: 43.053629, -73.865586 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0536&lon=-73.8656&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining events: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); [Initial climb: Altitude deviation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 203054 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26FA214 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203054/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26FA214 ## Preliminary report (aircraft 1) On May 26, 2026, about 1347 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, N8656L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Saratoga Springs, New York. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 glider aerotow flight. The airplane was conducting an aerotow of a Schleicher ASW27 glider, N321ER via the glider’s center of gravity tow hook at Saratoga County Airport (5B2), Saratoga Springs, NY. Surveillance video showed that shortly after liftoff, at an altitude of about 200 ft, the glider pitched up and climbed above the towplane, pulling the tail of the towplane up and pitching its nose down. The glider pilot reported that he made several attempts to release before successfully separating from the towplane. The towplane did not recover from the upset, and subsequently impacted the runway, and a postcrash fire ensued. The glider returned to the airport and landed uneventfully. The towplane impacted about 50 ft right of the runway centerline in a nose down attitude and came to rest about 1,000 ft from the departure end of the runway. The debris path was oriented on a 330° magnetic heading and was about 100 ft in length from the initial impact point to the main accident site. At the initial impact point, two gouges about 1/2- to 3/4-inch-deep were observed in the asphalt, consistent with a propeller strike. Adjacent to the propeller strikes marks were rows of paint transfer consistent with wing contact. Thermal damage to the asphalt extended from the initial impact point to the main wreckage, and about 1 acre of grass adjacent to the runway was burned. The majority of the airplane was consumed by postcrash fire. The main landing gear was impact separated from the fuselage and located along the wreckage path. All the flight control surfaces remained attached to their respective attach points. The flap control lever was positioned to the flaps retracted position. The left aileron drive cable was separated about 11-inches from the wing root, the cable ends exhibited a splayed, broomstrawed appearance, consistent with a tension overload separation. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to all the flight controls except where separations were noted consistent with tension overload. The tow rope release latch and associated cable were continuous from the cockpit to the tail mounted latch mechanism. The engine was partially separated from the airframe and exhibited impact and thermal damage. Engine control continuity was established from the cockpit to the engine. The carburetor and oil sump were partially consumed by fire. Thermal damage precluded field tests of the magnetos. Crankshaft and valvetrain continuity was established during hand rotation of the crankshaft, with compression and suction observed on all six-cylinders. A borescope examination revealed no anomalies within the cylinders. The two-bladed, aluminum, fixed-pitch propeller wasimpact separated from the engine. One blade exhibited longitudinal twisting, leading-edge gouges, and chordwise abrasion at its outboard area. The other blade was bent aft about 20° midspan. The spinner was crushed aft and exhibited torsional deformation. The tow rope was located about 25 ft before the initial impact point. It measured about 195 ft in length and was constructed of twisted polypropylene. The weak link and metal rings remained intact and thermal damage was noted at both ends of the rope. Functional testing in the field confirmed that the tow rope latch mechanisms on both the glider and towplane were operational. Both aircraft were retained for further examination. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Glider tow event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/510), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/510/sequence.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/510/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Glider tow event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/510), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-27, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/510/sequence.md?model=3801501), [All aircraft, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/510/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Glider tow event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/510), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-27, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/510/sequence.md?model=3801501), [All aircraft, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/510/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Altitude deviation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-27, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282/sequence.md?model=3801501), [All aircraft, 104 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282/sequence.md) ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N8656L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8656L), registered now, S/N 25-5101, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-5101 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 4084.1 - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Glider tow, Part 91 - Operator: Adirondack Soaring Association Inc - Registered owner: Adirondack Soaring Association Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 21, 2026 - Airport: 5B2, Saratoga County, runway 32, 4,000 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: Unknown ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N321ER](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N321ER), registered now, S/N 27091 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW-27 - Registry model: [Schleicher ASW-27](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-27) (registry code 3801501) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 27091 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 642 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Landgraf Scott A - Last inspection: Annual, January 6, 2026 - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Data recorder, Angle of attack indicator ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: SCH, 13 nm away - METAR: METAR KSCH 261746Z 26005KT 10SM CLR 29/12 A3004 ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20260526009059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260526009059A), May 26, 2026: Piper PA-25-235, Ballston Spa, NY, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. 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… - [Accident 20260526008219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260526008219A), May 26, 2026: Schleicher ASW-27, Ballston Spa, NY, Minor damage. On may 26, 2026, [privacy data omitted] a single engine PA-25 was towing an ASW-27 glider [privacy data omitted] at Saratoga County Airport (5B2). While… ## Other investigations on N8656L (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 IAD70F0042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD70F0042), Aug 12, 1969: Piper PA-25 (N8656L), Maxton, NC, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.