Piper PA-23-250 accident near Clayton, New York, May 11, 2011
On May 11, 2011 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N4760P, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Clayton, New York (Ritchie Airfield). 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 failure to obtain a proper touchdown point while landing with a gusting tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 2011 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Clayton, New York · Ritchie Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N4760P · no longer on the register · serial 27-301
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the airplane was about to touch down when a gust of wind caused the left wing to drop toward the ground. The wing impacted the ground and skidded on the turf runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest and was engulfed in flames, which resulted in substantial damage. The airplane landed approximately 150 feet prior to the turf runway’s threshold. The wind, recorded at an airport 12 miles to the south about the time of the accident, was from 030 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 19 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane 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
- Landing area undershoot during landing defining event
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 750 hours in all; 230 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 700 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 14, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,174 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 11, 2011; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming O-540 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming 0-540 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HWV Brookhaven NY at 1:50 pm
- Destination: 28NK Clayton NY
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 25, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from ART, 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.
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.