# NTSB IAD96LA129: Aerofab Lake 250, N8428F, Adirondack, NY, August 7, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 1996, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Adirondack, NY - Coordinates: 43.71965, -73.769462 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7197&lon=-73.7695&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report March 31, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28095 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD96LA129 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28095/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96LA129 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in his failure to ensure that he could maintain sufficient altitude and clearance from mountainous terrain after entering a blind canyon. Haze and the terrain were related factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, climb - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor) - terrain condition - blind/box canyon (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was sightseeing, looking for a resort area to land. He stated that his flight was uneventful, until he initiated a climb between two mountain ranges, then he heard the stall warning horn sound. He stated that he was close to the ground, so he did not look inside the cockpit. He stated that when he added full power, the engine sounded normal, but the stall warning horn sounded a second and a third time. Also, he stated that he made a controlled stall-type landing onto the tree tops. According to an FAA safety inspector, the pilot reported that he could not see the ridge clearly due to haze. The accident site was at an approximate elevation of 2900 feet. The height of the mountain was about 3300 feet. ## Factual narrative On August 7, 1996, at 1330 eastern daylight time (EDT), an Aerofab, Inc., Lake 250, N8428F, crashed in mountainous terrain 10 miles south of Saranac Lake, in Adirondack, New York. The certificated commercial pilot and the one passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated in Burlington, Vermont, at 1130 EDT. The intended destination was Saranac Lake, in Adirondack, New York. According to the pilot, he was sightseeing, looking for a resort area. He stated that he circled looking for a landing area, but decided not to land at that lake. He stated that he initiated a climb between two mountain ranges, but,"...I became uncomfortable with my choice of which mountain pass to traverse...at this point everything started to go awry. Although the sound of the engine remained essentially unchanged, it became difficult for me to continue a climb...I was rapidly losing my clearance above the tree tops...I was close enough to the ground that I didn't dare take my eyes and attention into the cockpit. At this point the yoke began to feel mushy, and I advanced the engine and propeller controls. The stall warning horn sounded once...The engine and propeller noise still sounded normal, but the stall warning horn sounded a second time and a third time...I had to make a controlled stall-type landing onto the tree tops... ." According to a Federal Aviation Administration Safety Inspector, the pilot reported that he could not see the ridge clearly due to the haze. The FAA Safety Inspector reported that the accident site was at an approximate elevation of 2900 feet. The height of the mountain was 3300 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8428F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8428F-1997-03-24), registration cancelled 1997-03-24, S/N 96 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerofab Inc. LAKE 250 - Registry model: [Aerofab LAKE 250](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerofab-lake-250) (registry code 5110322) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 96 - Airframe hours: 346 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William M. Black - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 1996, 105 hours before - Departed: BTV, BURLINGTON, VT - Destination: SLK, SARANAC LAKE, NY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,456 total, 91 in this make and model, 1,410 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 8 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SLK, 10 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960807021609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960807021609A), Aug 7, 1996: Aronca LA, Saranac Lake, NY, Destroyed. Crashed in mounainous area. 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.