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NYC91LA147

1991-06-02 · RHINEBECK, New York, United States · Serious · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport N56

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN FLYING SPEED, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE PILOT, AND THE PILOT'S DECISION TO MAKE THE TAKEOFF UNDER THE EXISTING CONDITIONS.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT INITIATED A TAKEOFF ON A GRASS RUNWAY WITH CALM WINDS. HE SAID HE BECAME AIRBORNE AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1600 FEET, RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR AND REMAINED LEVEL TO ACCELERATE. HE SAID HE STARTED A CLIMB AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN TOO STEEP BECAUSE THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND FELL OFF ON THE RIGHT WING. THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE CARTWHEELED INTO TREES. THE TEMPERATURE WAS REPORTED TO BE 75 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRPLANE WAS NEAR ITS MAXIMUM GROSS TAKEOFF WEIGHT AND THE GRASS ON THE RUNWAY WAS A LITTLE HIGH. THERE WERE TREES AT BOTH ENDS OF THE 2200 FOOT LONG RUNWAY AND THE SURFACE WAS UNDULATING. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_NYC91LA147.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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