Piper PA 17 accident near Keene Valley, New York, October 6, 2016
On October 6, 2016 at about 8:40 pm local time, a 1948 Piper PA 17, registered N4584H, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) start-up) near Keene Valley, New York (Marcy Field). 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
The pilot's failure to use the proper hand propping procedures, resulting in a runaway airplane and an impact with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 2016 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Keene Valley, New York · Marcy Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 17 NO SERIES, built 1948 · all PA 17s on the register
- Registration
- N4584H · registry record · serial 17-9
- 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 he attempted to hand prop the unoccupied and unchocked airplane, but was unsuccessful. He returned to the cockpit to prime the engine, but then decided to instruct his passenger on how to enter and exit the cockpit, which she then practiced multiple times before exiting the airplane to watch the start procedures again. The pilot further reported that he attempted to hand prop the airplane a second time and the engine started and accelerated to a high revolution per minute (RPM) setting. The pilot was unable to restrain the airplane by holding the right wing lift strut and the airplane made a right circle, entered a wooded area, and impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot later reported that the airplane was not equipped with a parking brake. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-3A, contains a section titled "Hand Propping" which states: An engine should not be hand propped unless two people, both familiar with the airplane and hand propping techniques, are available to perform the procedure. The person pulling the propeller blades through directs all activity and is in charge of the procedure. The other person, thoroughly familiar with the controls, must be seated in the airplane with the brakes set. As an additional precaution, chocks may be placed in front of the main wheels. If this is not feasible, the airplane's tail may be securely tied. Never allow a person unfamiliar with the controls to occupy the pilot's seat when hand propping. The procedure should never be attempted alone.
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
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) start-up) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of policy/procedure › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Not installed/available
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,964.5 hours in all; 5.3 in this make and model; 5.3 in the last 90 days; 5.3 in the last 30 days; 5,094.1 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 3, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,195.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor A-65-8 (piston); 693 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NY1 Ghent NY at 4:10 pm
- Destination: 1I1 Keene Valley NY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 am from KSLK, 21 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 28, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.