Pzl 101 accident near Chazy, New York, August 31, 2004
On August 31, 2004 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Pzl 101, registered N123LZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chazy, New York (None airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power due to the fractured crankshaft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 2004 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chazy, New York · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pzl 101
- Registration
- N123LZ · no longer on the register · serial 119-265
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Approximately 20 minutes after takeoff, the engine "locked up" without warning. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field, and during the landing, the airplane impacted a ditch, substantially damaging the airplane. Examination of the radial engine revealed that the crankshaft was fractured. Additionally, as the propeller was rotated, an "audible crunching sound" was heard from the accessory gearbox. Fuel was observed in both fuel tanks and fuel continuity was confirmed to the engine. The oil sump was empty; however, a significant amount of oil was observed under the engine. Additionally, the oil tank was ruptured, and the amount of oil 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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 7,900 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,420 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2004; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl AI-14R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Swanton VT at 2:20 pm
- Destination: SRB Sparta TN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 2:40 pm from PLB, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.