Piper PA-32-260 accident near Yonkers, New York, January 27, 2013
On January 27, 2013 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N1967E, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Yonkers, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the engine and associated components did not reveal any mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 27, 2013 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Yonkers, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N1967E · no longer on the register · serial 32-920
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was performing a personal sightseeing flight over the Hudson River at 1,200 feet above mean sea level. She reported the airplane contained 74 gallons of fuel at takeoff. While abeam a tower, the engine began to partially lose power. The pilot initiated the emergency procedures in the checklist and applied carburetor heat. Engine performance worsened and the carburetor heat was left on for about 15 seconds. She then turned off the carburetor heat and engine performance improved. After about 20 seconds, the engine began to lose power again. Unable to maintain altitude, she made a mayday call and performed a forced landing on the river. The engine and airframe were inspected after the airplane was recovered from the river. The engine ingested a significant amount of mud and debris and many engine components were corroded. No evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunction or failure was found with the engine, ignition system, or carburetor that would have precluded normal operation. Damage from prolonged water submersion prevented a test run of the engine. The airplane was not being operated in weather conditions conducive to carburetor icing.
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 engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Ditching during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,380 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 923 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 19, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GO-435C&D SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3N6 Old Bridge NJ at 9:30 pm
- Destination: 3N6 Old Bridge NJ
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 290° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.48 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from TEB, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.