Piper PA-24-180 accident near Hancock, New York, August 21, 2005
On August 21, 2005 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-180, registered N6617P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hancock, New York (White Birch Field 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, which resulted in the airplane impacting the ground. A factor in the accident was the downdraft wind condition, as reported by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 2005 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Hancock, New York · White Birch Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-180 · all PA-24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N6617P · no longer on the register · serial 24-1738
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot entered the traffic pattern for runway 35, and on the base leg, he added two notches of flaps and trimmed the airplane to maintain 85 knots. During the final approach to the runway, the airplane encountered a gust of wind (downdraft). The pilot applied power; however, the airplane impacted the rising terrain prior to the approach end of the runway, and slid approximately 200 feet before coming to rest. The winds reported at an airport 31 miles to the southeast were from 260 degrees at 8 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 696 hours in all; 170 in this make and model; 624 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,725 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2005; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9N7 Fredricksburg PA at 1:30 pm
- Destination: 4N8 Hancock NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 1,910 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from MSV, 31 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.