# NTSB NYC85FFA01: Cessna 172I, N215NY, Essex, NY, October 6, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: October 6, 1984, 12:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Essex, NY
- Coordinates: 44.270214, -73.390007 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2702&lon=-73.3900&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 4 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35587
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85FFA01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35587/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85FFA01

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - misc eqpt/furnishings - failure,partial (cause)
  - pull-up - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vso) - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - uncontrolled, pilot in command
  - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WITNESSES STATED ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE NEAR THE SLIGHT RISE IN THE RWY, APRX 1500 FT DOWN THE RWY, AND CLIMBED TO APRX 60 FT AGL. ACFT SHUTTERED AND NOSE OF ACFT PITCHED UP. LEFT WING AND NOSE THEN DROPPED. ACFT CONTINUED DESCENDING TO THE LEFT ACROSS A SMALL RAVINE WHICH PARALLELED THE RWY, CRASHING INTO THE EASTERLY SIDE OF A RAVINE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED SEAT STOPS WERE NOT FOUND IN PLTS SEAT RAIL. STOP SCREW WAS FOUND ON CABIN FLOOR NEAR LOCATION OF HOLE PROVIDED FOR SEAT STOP IN INBOARD TRACK OF SEAT. 1/2 OF THE BROKEN SEAT STOP WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT CHANNEL OF THE RIGHT PLTS SEAT TRACK APRX 1 INCH FORWARD OF THE INSTALLATION HOLE. THE SEAT TRACK SURFACE WAS SCORED AND ALL HOLES IN THE TRACK WERE ELONGATED. THE SEAT ROLLERS WERE REPLACED IN 1979 DUE TO SLIPPAGE. ACFT CONTAINEDA SEAT SLIPPAGE WARNING PLACARD, 'INSURE AIRCRAFT SEATS ARE POSITIVELY LOCKED BEFORE TAKEOFF AND LANDING.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N215NY](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N215NY-2013-04-23), registration cancelled 2013-04-23, S/N 17257083, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172I
- Registry model: [Cessna 172I](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172i) (registry code 2072426) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17257083
- Airframe hours: 4054
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E20 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Civil Air Patrol, doing business as Plattsburg, Ny
- Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 12, 1984, 77 hours before
- Departed: NY84, ESSEX, NY
- Destination: NY84, ESSEX, NY
- Airport: N/84, Richter Aero

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 952 total, 859 as pilot in command, 67 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19841006054449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841006054449A), Oct 6, 1984: Cessna 172I, Essex, NY, Substantial damage. After takeoff aircraft entered steep climb. Stalled and crashed. Pilots seat indicates slipping rearward.

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.