Piper PA-28-180 accident near Poestenkill, New York, January 16, 1993
On January 16, 1993 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N7804W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Poestenkill, New York (Rensselaer Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 1993 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Poestenkill, New York · Rensselaer Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7804W · no longer on the register · serial 28-1795
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE PERFORMED A THOROUGH PREFLIGHT INSPECTION AND RUN UP PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. DURING INITIAL CLIMBOUT, THE ENGINE 'DIED' AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE HIT A DIRT BANK AND WAS DAMAGED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT FUEL WAS AVAILABLE TO THE ENGINE AND NO DISCREPANCIES WITH ANY OF THE FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS WERE NOTED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING A FLIGHT EIGHT DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE ENGINE 'SPUTTERED' WHEN IN A CLIMB ATTITUDE. THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER WHEN IN LEVEL FLIGHT OR WITH THE AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP ON. AFTER THAT FLIGHT, A MECHANIC CHECKED THE AIRPLANE, BUT FOUND NO DISCREPANCY.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,045 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 990 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,522 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 20, 1992; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5B7 at 9:00 pm
- Destination: 5B7
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,670 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,200 ft; not recorded at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from ALB, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.