NTSB CAROL · Event
Event NYC89FA121
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER ALTITUDE DURING THE APPROACH. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION.
Factual narrative
SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFF, THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A DIRT BLUFF, 197 FT SHORT OF RUNWAY 8 AND 22 FT BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE RUNWAY. WITNESSES WHO OBSERVED THE CRASH SAID THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT DEVIATE OR ROCK WINGS PRIOR TO IMPACT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-EXISTING FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WITH EITHER THE ENGINE OR AIRFRAME. THE PROPELLER HAD DEEP LEADING EDGE MARKS AND CHORD WISE STRIATIONS. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF SEAT BELT USAGE BY THE PILOT, WHO WAS THROWN CLEAR OF THE WRECKAGE. THE PILOT WAS AN INVESTMENT BANKER, WHO HAD JUST BEEN PLACED ON LEAVE WITH PAY BY HIS EMPLOYER, WHILE HIS FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS WERE BEING CHECKED. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1989_NYC89FA121.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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