Piper PA-32RT-300 accident near Ithaca, New York, May 12, 2001
On May 12, 2001 at about 1:36 pm local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300, registered N36127, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ithaca, New York (Tompkins County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to follow the published instrument approach procedure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2001 · about 1:36 pm local time
- Place
- Ithaca, New York · Tompkins County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300 · all PA-32RT-300s on the register
- Registration
- N36127 · no longer on the register · serial 32R7885163
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was assigned a cruise altitude of 6,000 feet msl. Radar recorded the airplane at 5,900 feet msl. While in IMC, the airplane was vectored on to the final approach course for an ILS approach. At localizer intercept, the airplane was descending approximately 500 fpm. When the airplane was 5 miles from the LOM, the controller advised the pilot he was cleared for the approach, and that radar services were terminated. The airplane crossed the LOM approximately a 1/4 mile right of course, and within 100 feet of the glide-slope crossing altitude of 2,837 feet msl. After the LOM, the decent rate slowed to approximately 400 fpm, and the airplane continued to descend for about 1 minute 38 seconds. The airplane leveled at 2,200 feet msl, and remained at that altitude until radar contact was lost about a minute later. Approximately 2 miles from the airport, the pilot looked outside, to see if he could acquire the ground visually. He saw the ground approaching from the front of the airplane seconds before impact. The airplane impacted the ground, and came to rest about 80 feet below the elevation of the runway. Prior to impact, the pilot thought the airplane was in level flight approximately 1,000 feet agl. The pilot reported no failure or malfunctions with the airplane.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 515 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 377 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 29, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,597 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 14, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TEB Teterboro NJ at 12:05 pm
- Destination: ITH Ithaca NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 32, 6,601 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 0.8 statute miles
- Sky: vv at 300 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 1:10 pm from ITH, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.