Piper PA 22-150 accident near Tompkins, New York, October 25, 2014
On October 25, 2014 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1960 Piper PA 22-150, registered N8064Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Tompkins, New York (White Birch Field). 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
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examinations and testing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 2014 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tompkins, New York · White Birch Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 22-150, built 1960 · all PA 22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N8064Y · no longer on the register · serial 22-7436
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/owner had not flown the airplane for several months, but he had recently completed several high-speed taxis in the airplane. Before the accident flight, he completed a preflight inspection, which included checking the fuel for water. The preflight inspection and engine run-up did not reveal any anomalies. During takeoff, about 300 ft above ground level and 100 ft beyond the end of the runway, the engine lost and regained power about three times. The pilot applied carburetor heat, but the engine then lost all power. The airplane was too low to return to the airport, so the pilot conducted a forced landing to a road, and the left wing struck a tree. The pilot added that the airplane departed with 25 gallons of automobile gasoline onboard and that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane before the power loss. After the accident, on-scene responders confirmed there was adequate fuel onboard the airplane, then the pilot removed the wings and transported the airplane back to his residence where it was examined 2 days later. Due to the fuselage damage and disposition of the wreckage, the propeller could not be rotated; however, the engine did not exhibit evidence of catastrophic failure. The fuel could not be checked for contamination because the gascolator had fractured during impact and the pilot had defueled the airplane and disposed of the fuel before transporting it. The airplane had been operated about 17 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was completed about 4 years before the accident; thus, the airplane was about 3 years overdue for an annual inspection. Although the temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of serious icing at glide power, the engine was at takeoff power when the power loss occurred.
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 (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Scheduled/routine inspection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 800 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 4, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,277 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NK68 Hancock NY at 5:30 pm
- Destination: NK68 Hancock NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 1,910 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from BGM, 20 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.