Piper PA-28-161 accident near Red Hook, New York, November 13, 1992
On November 13, 1992 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N31634, was substantially damaged in an accident near Red Hook, New York (Sky Park Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT DEACTIVATION OF THE ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP DURING TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 1992 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Red Hook, New York · Sky Park Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N31634 · registry record · serial 28-7816570
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, HE 'SWITCHED OFF THE AIRCRAFT HEADLIGHT.' THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL POWER AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES BEFORE STOPPING. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. THE ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP SWITCH WAS LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE LANDING LIGHT SWITCH; IT WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION. THE BOOST PUMP WAS TESTED, AND IT OPERATED PROPERLY.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 810 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 685 as pilot in command; 140 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,379 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 10, 1992; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 46N at 10:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,664 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from POU, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.