# NTSB NYC94LA146: Piper PA-25-260, N4887Y, Crown Point, NY, August 2, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 2, 1994, 18:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Crown Point, NY - Coordinates: 43.950321, -73.529647 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9503&lon=-73.5296&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38808 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38808/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA146 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE. OTHER RELATED FACTORS ARE CLOUD CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - object - tree(s) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING VIA A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADIO BROADCAST AND HE THEN DEPARTED ON A POSITIONING FLIGHT. EN ROUTE HE ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS. WHILE MANEUVERING TO RETURN TO HIS DEPARTURE POINT, HE INADVERTENTLY ENTERED A CLOUD AND STRUCK TREES PRIOR TO REGAINING VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. ## Factual narrative On August 2, 1994, at 1815 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-25-260, N4887Y, piloted by Donald L. Quesnel, of Middlebury, Vermont, struck trees near Crown Point, New York, while maneuvering to exit instrument meteorological conditions. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot received minor injuries. No flight plan had been filed for the positioning flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91. When interviewed, the pilot reported the airplane was being positioned to Saranac Lake, New York, for an aerial application flight. The pilot was flying around 1500 feet MSL as he passed Crown Point, and it was hazy, but he could see the ground. He made a decision to return to Middlebury, Vermont, his departure point due to deteriorating weather. After he turned around, he inadvertently entered a cloud and it got dark and cold. He said he attempted to maneuver clear of the cloud, however, he saw trees off his left wing and struck trees prior to exiting the cloud. At the time of the accident, the altimeter was reading around 1500 feet. No chemicals were onboard the airplane at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that prior to departure, he did not call the FAA Flight Service Station for a weather briefing; however, he did listen to a weather broadcast on a NOAA radio and said he was aware of the weather in the area. According to FAA Records, the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate. He did not possess an instrument rating. The pilot reported he had 773 flight hours total time, with 575 flight hours in the Piper PA-25. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4887Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4887Y-1995-07-18), registration cancelled 1995-07-18, S/N 254692 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-25-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-260) (registry code 7102508) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-4692 - Airframe hours: 4460 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-G1A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ag Spraying, Dick Quesnel, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 20, 1994, 200 hours before - Departed: 6B0, MIDDLEBURY, VT - Destination: SLK, SARANAC LAKE, NY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 773 total, 575 in this make and model, 760 as pilot in command, 225 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PBG, 40 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 19940802019989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940802019989A), Aug 2, 1994: Piper PA25260, Crown Point, NY, Destroyed. On ferry flight ran into IMC. Struck trees making a 180. Spatial disorientaion. Failure to check weather factors. ## Other investigations on N4887Y (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 NYC75FHD48](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC75FHD48), May 30, 1975: Piper PA-25 (N4887Y), Monroeville, NJ, 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.