Amateur-built ACRO-SPORT II accident near Honeoye Falls, New York, June 23, 1995
On June 23, 1995 at about 9:50 pm local time, a amateur-built ACRO-SPORT II, registered N27727, was destroyed in an accident near Honeoye Falls, New York (Honeoye Falls 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 preflight planning/preparation and his misjudging of the touchdown during the forced landing. Related factors are the pilot's improper maintenance, and fuel contamination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 1995 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Honeoye Falls, New York · Honeoye Falls · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ACRO-SPORT II ACRO-SPORT
- Registration
- N27727 · no longer on the register · serial 516
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE FLIGHT PREVIOUS TO THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRPLANE ENGINE LOST POWER DURING TRAFFIC PATTERN OPERATIONS. THE PILOT MADE A SUCCESSFUL EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD ABOUT 3/4 OF A MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT STATED THAT UPON EXAMINATION, HE FOUND WATER AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE PILOT DRAINED FUEL UNTIL CONTAMINANTS WERE NO LONGER VISIBLE, THEN DECIDED TO FLY THE AIRPLANE BACK TO THE AIRPORT. HE REPORTED THAT WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ENTERING THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AGAIN. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON THE RUNWAY, BUT IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PRIVATE PILOT/AIRPLANE OWNER HAD REASSEMBLED THE AIRPLANE, WHICH HAD BEEN HANGARED FOR FIVE YEARS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT DRAIN THE CARBURETOR BOWL OR FLUSH THE FUEL TANK/SYSTEM DURING THE REASSEMBLY. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD ACCUMULATED A TOTAL OF 3 TO 4 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME SINCE REASSEMBLY.
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: 120 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 120 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 797 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 1995; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,520 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Honeoye Falls NY at 9:45 pm
- Destination: D70
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 1,685 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 am from ROC, 5 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.