Cessna 120 accident near Chittenango, New York, February 12, 1994
On February 12, 1994 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 120, registered N1626V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chittenango, New York (Luther airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PLANNING/DECISION TO TAKE OFF WITH THE PRESENCE OF A TAILWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 12, 1994 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chittenango, New York · Luther · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 120 · all 120s on the register
- Registration
- N1626V · no longer on the register · serial 13798
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOLD AN FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR HE ELECTED TO TAKE OFF DOWNWIND ON RUNWAY 27 BECAUSE THE RUNWAY SLOPES DOWN IN THAT DIRECTION. HE SAID THE TAILWIND WAS 2 TO 5 KNOTS BUT THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE IN GROUND EFFECT, THE WIND PICKED UP AND THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT CLEAR THE TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
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
- Flight time: 888 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 10 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NY09 Sullivan NY at 7:30 pm
- Destination: NY09 NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,700 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from SYR, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.