Beech E35 accident near Mount Morris, New York, October 10, 2009
On October 10, 2009 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Beech E35, registered N3515B, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Mount Morris, New York (Jc Palermo Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper decision to take off from unsuitable terrain with a quartering tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 2009 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Mount Morris, New York · Jc Palermo Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech E35 · all E35s on the register
- Registration
- N3515B · registry record · serial D-3732
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot attempted a quartering tailwind takeoff from a 1,200-foot turf runway to troubleshoot why the entry door would pop open on takeoff. Although the airplane initially became airborne, it was either unable to maintain flight, or the pilot elected to land it in a hayfield beyond the end of the runway. After inspecting the airplane, the pilot taxied it to another spot on the rough-surfaced hayfield, and attempted another quartering tailwind takeoff. Again, after briefly becoming airborne, the airplane landed, but then went through a hedgerow and crossed a drainage ditch. Other than the entry door, the pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The pilot did not have a logbook, and had not had a biennial flight review “in a few years,” but continued to fly on a regular basis. The pilot also did not hold a current medical certificate, and was taking prescribed medications on a daily basis that typically would not have been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › (general) › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › (general) › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,400 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 2,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,915 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 13, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 2,775 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor E185 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Mount Morris NY at 7:45 pm
- Destination: NONE Mount Morris NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 1,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; a few clouds at 4,900 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from DSV, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 ERA10LA014.