# NTSB NYC84FA110: Lockheed 18-56, N77777, Oneonta, NY, March 17, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 16, 1984, 23:30 local (Mar 17, 1984, 04:30 UTC)
- Place: Oneonta, NY
- Coordinates: 42.450428, -75.060607 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4504&lon=-75.0606&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35324
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84FA110
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35324/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84FA110

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stolen aircraft/unauthorized use - performed, pilot in command
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AT APRX 2330 EST, WITNESSES NEAR THE CRASH SITE HEARD AN ACFT, & SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THEY SAW A FLASH. ONE OF THEM, WHO WAS DRIVING A CAR, WENT BACK TO THE AREA THE NEXT DAY & FOUND THE ACFT WRECKAGE. THE ACFT HAD CRASHED & BURNED ABOUT 1 MI FROM THE APCH END OF RWY 24. WRECKAGE WAS STREWN ALONG AN AREA OF ABOUT 250 FT LONG & WAS ORIENTED ON A HEADING OF 230 DEG. THE ACFT WAS DESCENDING IN AN ESTIMATE 40 DEG DIVE WHEN IT HIT THE GROUND. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY EVIDENCE OF A MALFUNCTION. ABOUT 3500 LBS OF MARIJUANA WAS FOUND IN THE WRECKAGE. THE 2010 WX AT THE ARPT WAS: INDEFINITE 500 FT OBSCURATION, VISIBILITY 1 1/4 MI WITH RAIN & LIGHT FOG, TEMP 33 DEG, WIND FROM 280 DEG AT 5 KTS. ANOTHER PLT HAD LANDED AT 2015. HE SAID HIS ACFT HAD ACCUMULATED A TRACE OF RIME ICE. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, WITNESSES SAID THE ROADS WERE LIGHTLY COVERED WITH ICE SNOW.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N77777](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N77777-2013-05-02), registration cancelled 2013-05-02, S/N 2373, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LOCKHEED 18-56
- Registry model: [Lockheed 18-56](https://openairdocs.org/model/lockheed-18-56) (registry code 5261642) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Wright C9HD series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-c9hd-series) (registry code 67028, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22500
- Engines: WRIGHT GR-1820 1000 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Holiday Tours, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: N66, Oneonta, runway 24, 3,400 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 13,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 5° at 21 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft
- Temperature: 5 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BGM

## 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 19840316009799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840316009799A), Mar 16, 1984: Lkheed 18LEARSTAR, Oneonta, NY, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed during illegal drug flight when pilot attempted VFR approach to airport during IMC.

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.