# NTSB NYC89FA007: Piper PA-18-135, N8179C, Akron, NY, October 9, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 9, 1988, 10:47 local (14:47 UTC)
- Place: Akron, NY
- Coordinates: 43.010818, -78.489105 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0108&lon=-78.4891&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36252
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89FA007
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36252/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89FA007

## 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
  - airspeed - inadequate, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - aircraft weight and balance - improper, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, company/operator mgmt (contributing factor)
  - stall/spin - uncontrolled, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PIPER PA-18-135 STALLED ON TAKEOFF AND CRASHED. WITNESSES SAID THEY OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT NOSE HIGH, NOT CLIMBING, AND AT A SLOW AIRSPEED. THEY REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT BANKED LEFT AND STRUCK TREES. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED THROUGH THE TREES TO THE GROUND AND CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN. THE CFI SAID HE WAS BURNED WHILE ESCAPING THE AIRCRAFT. THE PVT PILOT RECEIVING INSTRUCTION WAS UNABLE TO ESCAPE AND DIED OF BURNS. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH EITHER THE ENGINE OR AIRFRAME. THE AIRCRAFT LOGBOOK INCORRECTLY INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT GROSS WEIGHT WAS 250 LBS TOO HIGH. THIS CONDITION HAD EXISTED SINCE 5/19/80. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE AIRCRAFT WAS 131 LBS OVER THE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT OF 1500 LBS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8179C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8179C-1994-06-10), registration cancelled 1994-06-10, S/N 183636 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-135
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-3636
- Airframe hours: 2176
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Western New York Flying Club
- Registered owner: Western New York Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 25, 1988, 5 hours before
- Airport: 9G3, Akron, runway 6, 3,310 × 48 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 893 total, 19 in this make and model, 737 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BUF, 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 19881009045779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881009045779A), Oct 9, 1988: Piper PA18135, Akron, NY, Destroyed, 2 fatal. CFI took off on a short field demonstration with full flaps. Stalled into trees, crashed inverted and burned.

## Other investigations on N8179C (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 NYC75DFJ07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC75DFJ07), Aug 17, 1974: Piper PA-18 (N8179C), Carlton, 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.

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