Piper PA-23-250 accident near Buffalo, New York, May 5, 2003
On May 5, 2003 at about 11:29 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N448VP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buffalo, New York (Buffalo Niagara Intl Arpt airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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 maintain sufficient airspeed to prevent an inadvertent stall. Factors were the variable and gusty winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 2003 · about 11:29 pm local time
- Place
- Buffalo, New York · Buffalo Niagara Intl Arpt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N448VP · no longer on the register · serial 27-4414
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was approaching to land on runway 23 with a tower reported wind from 170 degrees at 10 knots. He reported that at 20 feet, and an airspeed of 100-110 mph, the airplane fell to the runway. The airport was equipped with a low level windshear detection system. According to data from 2 minutes before the accident to 2 minutes after the accident, from the on-airport sensors, the wind was variable by 40 degrees, and the velocity changed by about 5 knots.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 210 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 1,800 as pilot in command; 1,200 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 27, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,944 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 23, 2003; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: POU Poughkeepsie NY at 10:00 pm
- Destination: BUF Buffalo NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 8,102 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from BUF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.