# NTSB NYC87FA209: Cessna 182, N6313A, Poestenkill, NY, July 26, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 26, 1987, 07:50 local (11:50 UTC)
- Place: Poestenkill, NY
- Coordinates: 42.690853, -73.559616 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6909&lon=-73.5596&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30506
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87FA209
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30506/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87FA209

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - physiological condition, pilot in command
  - wing,wingtip
  - maintenance,recordkeeping - improper, company/operator management
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - wing - overload
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing,wingtip - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT WAS ON A FLT TO PSN THE ACFT FOR SKY DIVING ACTIVITIES. AS HE WAS TRANSITING THE ALBANY ARPT RADAR SVC AREA AT 5500', RADIO AND RADAR CTC WERE LOST. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED IN A STEEP DIVE AND WAS DEMOLISHED BY IMPACT. PSNL IN THE AREA RPRTD AN OVC COND AND ESTD THE VIS WAS AT LEAST 1 MI. ABT 12 MI ESE, THE 0750 ALBANY WX WAS IN PART: 1200' SCT, 6000' BKN. VIS 2 MI WITH FOG. LOW CLOUDS AT THE RPRTG STN HAD LIFTED BY THE TIME OF THE ACDNT. RADAR DATA SHOWED THE ACFT DEVIATED IN BOTH HDG AND ALT FM 5500', ENTERED A DIVE WITH COURSE REVERSALS; THEN PRIMARY RADAR TARGETS APPEARED JUST BFR RADAR CTC WAS LOST. BOTH WING TIPS SEPD IN FLT, BUT WERE NOT FND. PIECES OF WING SKIN WERE FND UP TO 400 YDS AWAY. LARGE DROOP WING TIPS WERE RPRTDLY INSTALLED, BUT NO AUTHORIZATION WAS FND FOR SUCH INSTALLATION. A PATHOLOGICAL EXAM SHOWED THE PLT HAD 'MODERATE MILD CORONARY ARTERIOSCLEROSIS.' THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ANTEMORTEM CARDIAC ISCHEMIA COULD NOT BE RULED OUT. THE PLT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN TREATED FOR A SUSPECTED HEART CONDITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6313A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 33113
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Esperance Aviation Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 7, 1986
- Departed: 7B7, QUAKER STREET, NY
- Destination: 0B5, TURNER FALLS, MA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,587 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ALB, 12 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 19870726037819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870726037819A), Jul 26, 1987: Cessna 182, Poestenkill, NY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Airframe failure in flight. Pilot may have suffered a heart attack. Was VFR in IMC. Airframe altered without a 337.

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.

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