Amateur-built GREAT LAKES 2T-1A accident near Warwarsing, New York, April 5, 2012
On April 5, 2012 at about 9:40 pm local time, a amateur-built GREAT LAKES 2T-1A, registered N211RW, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Warwarsing, New York (None 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 failure to maintain airplane control during low level maneuvering flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 2012 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Warwarsing, New York · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GREAT LAKES 2T-1A
- Registration
- N211RW · no longer on the register · serial 6803K-386
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane with no anomalies noted. The purpose of the flight was to circle over a friend's property and return to the departure airport. The pilot said that, as he began the first turn to circle the property, he waved to his friends on the ground; he did not recall anything after he initiated that turn. According to a witness, as the airplane began to turn, it lost altitude and descended at a 45-degree angle until it struck a tree and then the ground. The airplane incurred substantial damage to the wings and fuselage during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
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 › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,502 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,374 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 13, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 660 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 24, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2NK9 Modena NY at 8:50 pm
- Destination: 2NK9 Modena NY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from MGJ, 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.