# NTSB NYC71AN062: Piper PA-23, N6879Y, Poestenkill, NY, November 19, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 19, 1970
- Place: Poestenkill, NY · POESTENKILL, NY
- Location: 42.6942° N, 73.5532° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Poestenkill, NY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6942&lon=-73.5532&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 159405
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC71AN062
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC71AN062

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2039  70/11/19   POESTENKILL,NY      PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 2246                    N6879Y              PX-  0  2  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            41, 16000 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            1000 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RENSSELAER COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HARTFORD,CONN               POESTENKILL,NY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       44
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          310                                                       3
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          BELOW MINIMUMS                                           IFR
        REMARKS- PLT ATMTD IFR APCH TO ARPT WITH NO APVD INST APCH PROCEDURE.VISIBILITY NEAR ZERO.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6879Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6879Y-1971-03-20), registration cancelled 1971-03-20, S/N 27-4226 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Rensselaer County

## Other investigations on N6879Y (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 NYC70F0072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC70F0072), Jul 14, 1969: Piper PA-23 (N6879Y), Clayton, NY, 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.