Piper PA-28R-201T and amateur-built AG-5B accident near Syracuse, New York, October 10, 1994
On October 10, 1994 at about 2:58 am local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28R-201T (N38869) and amateur-built AG-5B (N1190L), were involved in the same accident near Syracuse, New York (Syracuse Hancock Intl airport). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE AG-5B, N1190L, TO SEE AND AVOID THE PA-28R, N38869. THE DARK NIGHT WAS A FACTOR.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE AG-5B, N1190L, TO SEE AND AVOID THE PA-28R, N38869. THE DARK NIGHT WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 1994 · about 2:58 am local time
- Place
- Syracuse, New York · Syracuse Hancock Intl
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28R-201T PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N38869 · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7703280
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built AG-5B
- Registration
- N1190L · no longer on the register · serial 10005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28R-201T final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PA-28R, N38869, WAS HOLDING SHORT OF RWY 28, AT THE INTERSECTION OF TAXIWAYS HOTEL AND JULIET, FOR LANDING TRAFFIC. THE PILOT HAD TURNED OFF THE TAXI AND STROBE LIGHTS, AND HAD ADVISED THE TOWER OF THIS. THE AG-5B, N1190L, HAD ALSO BEEN CLEARED TO TAXI TO RWY 28, AND COLLIDED WITH THE PA-28R. THE AG-5B'S TAXI CLEARANCE FOLLOWED THE PA-28R'S TAXI CLEARANCE BY ABOUT 4 MIN. AT THE TIME THE AG-5B TAXI CLEARANCE, THE PILOT OF THE PA-28R HAD ALREADY REPORTED THAT HE WAS HOLDING SHORT WITH '...LIGHTS OFF.' THE AG-5B WAS STILL ON GROUND CONTROL FREQ.
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 NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built AG-5B final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PA-28R, N38869, WAS HOLDING SHORT OF RWY 28, AT THE INTERSECTION OF TAXIWAYS HOTEL AND JULIET, FOR LANDING TRAFFIC. THE PILOT HAD TURNED OFF THE TAXI AND STROBE LIGHTS, AND HAD ADVISED THE TOWER OF THIS. THE AG-5B, N1190L, HAD ALSO BEEN CLEARED TO TAXI TO RWY 28, AND COLLIDED WITH THE PA-28R. THE AG-5B'S TAXI CLEARANCE FOLLOWED THE PA-28R'S TAXI CLEARANCE BY ABOUT 4 MIN. AT THE TIME THE AG-5B TAXI CLEARANCE, THE PILOT OF THE PA-28R HAD ALREADY REPORTED THAT HE WAS HOLDING SHORT WITH '...LIGHTS OFF.' THE AG-5B WAS STILL ON GROUND CONTROL FREQ.
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 for the Piper PA-28R-201T from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 742 hours in all; 533 in this make and model; 84 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 669 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,734 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 9, 1993; 224 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Electronic Industries INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SYR at 4:00 am
- Destination: ACY Atlantic City NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 28
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:58 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
The factual record for the amateur-built AG-5B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 679 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 172 in the last 90 days; 98 in the last 30 days; 579 as pilot in command; 297 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 861 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 7, 1994; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SYR Syracuse NY at 4:00 am
- Destination: 39N Princeton NJ
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 28
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.