Nanchang China CJ-6A accident near Merrickville, New York, August 26, 2023
On August 26, 2023 at about 9:38 pm local time, a 1967 Nanchang China CJ-6A, registered N114DZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Merrickville, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power while enroute for reasons that could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 2023 · about 9:38 pm local time
- Place
- Merrickville, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Nanchang China CJ-6A, built 1967 · all CJ-6As on the register
- Registration
- N114DZ · registry record · serial 2132018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during a cross-country flight, he chose to divert to a closer airport due to weather and air traffic control delays. About 40 nautical miles from the diversion airport, the engine lost total power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful in restoring power and chose to conduct a forced landing into trees. The airplane impacted the trees and sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the left horizontal stabilizer. A video recorded by a witness near the accident site captured the sound of the engine cutting in and out before ultimately going silent, which was consistent with an additional witness report. Based upon fueling records and the pilot’s report of his fuel planning and the airplane’s fuel consumption rate, the airplane should have had about one hour of fuel remaining at the time of the loss of power. Due to the airplane damage, the total fuel quantity on board could not be established; however, the smell of fuel was present at the accident site. Examination of the engine found that a small piece of the intake duct work of a cylinder was missing. While having this piece missing could have resulted in under-performance of the engine or a partial loss of power, it is unlikely this would have resulted in a total loss of engine power. There were no other preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures found with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and the reason for the loss of power could not be determined.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during enroute
- Unknown or undetermined during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer, remote
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 6,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 5, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,207.6 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 21, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 3,080 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Vedeneyev M14P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OLD Old Town ME at 7:18 pm
- Destination: UNV State College PA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from OIC, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KOIC 262135Z AUTO 33007KT 300V360 10SM CLR 24/16 A2992 RMK AO2 T02440161
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.
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 ERA23LA351.