White New Standard accident near Rhinebeck, New York, July 26, 2009
On July 26, 2009 at about 8:40 pm local time, a White New Standard, registered N19157, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Rhinebeck, New York (Old Rhinebeck Airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident was a depression near the edge of the turf runway that the airplane encountered during the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2009 · about 8:40 pm local time · cases in 2009
- Place
- Rhinebeck, New York · Old Rhinebeck Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- White New Standard D25
- Registration
- N19157 · registry record · serial 162J
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was departing the turf runway in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. As he began the takeoff roll, the airplane "began to pull a little to the left." He corrected with rudder, but the airplane continued to "pull harder to the left." The airplane traveled toward the edge of the runway, where it "dropped suddenly" and exited the runway. The pilot attempted to steer the airplane back onto the runway, and continued to apply full power in order to avoid a large rock pile. He stated that the airplane was "tracking straight ahead" in an area of high brush, and that he decided to "remain with rudder and power rather than questionable braking." The airplane continued through the brush before traveling over an embankment and coming to rest between two trees on the edge of a swamp area. The airplane's wings sustained substantial damage. Postaccident inspection of the runway revealed a 12-inch-deep depression approximately where the airplane exited the runway. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact failures. The nearest weather reporting station, located approximately 21 miles south of the accident location, reported calm winds at the time of the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Airport occurrence during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › (general) › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,512 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 6,734 as pilot in command; 359 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 10, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,535 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Old Rhinebeck Air Shows
The flight
- Departed from: NY94 Rhinebeck NY
- Destination: NY94 Rhinebeck NY
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 18, 2,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 8:48 pm from POU, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on September 17, 2009. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Home Video | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum of Record Mr. Record | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N19157 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- White 14 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental W670 986 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Old Rhinebeck Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in New York 1,964 since 1982 · 248 in the last ten years
- New York 6,661 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA09CA424.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.