Cessna 150 accident near Troy, New York, June 4, 1994
On June 4, 1994 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N2480J, was destroyed in an accident near Troy, New York (Rensselaer County 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 PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH A TREE. A FACTOR IS CROSSWINDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 1994 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Troy, New York · Rensselaer County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N2480J · registry record · serial 15065580
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 36 WHEN IT SUDDENLY ENCOUNTERED A CHANGE IN WIND DIRECTION. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO SINK AND DRIFTED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE APPLIED POWER TO ARREST THE SINK RATE. HE STATED THAT HE TRIED TO ALIGN THE AIRPLANE WITH THE CENTERLINE, BUT HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK A TREE AND SPUN THE AIRCRAFT AROUND. ACCORDING TO THE FAA, THE REPORTED WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE 290 DEGREES AT 13 KNOTS GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION, AND THAT THE TREES WERE REMOVED BY OTHER PILOTS SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT THE WIND REVERSAL AND WIND SHEAR CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT.
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: 1,905 hours in all; 203 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,502 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 1994; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,670 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 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.