Piper PA-28-140 accident near Poughkeepsie, New York, April 12, 1994
On April 12, 1994 at about 12:22 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N5962U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Poughkeepsie, New York (Dutchess County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENGINE START, AND HIS DELAY IN REDUCING POWER AND APPLYING THE BRAKES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made September 29, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 1994 · about 12:22 pm local time
- Place
- Poughkeepsie, New York · Dutchess County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N5962U · registry record · serial 28-26864
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot had just started the engine in order to taxi the airplane for refueling. He was preparing the airplane for the FAA Private Pilot Practical Examination. The airplane's engine raced immediately following engine start and the airplane began to move forward. The student pilot attempted to apply the brakes, but the airplane continued to move forward, striking the engine cowling of a parked Cessna 172 with its left wing tip, and the tail section of a parked Cessna 182 with its propeller. The student pilot then shut down the engine. Skid marks were found on the ramp adjacent to the airplane. No pre-impact mechanical deficiencies were found.
The NTSB's narratives can run to many pages; this is the opening. Read the full report at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database and is rewritten in plain English only where the NTSB used codes; the probable cause and narrative are the NTSB's own words. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number BFO94LA064.