Amateur-built Falco F8L accident near Montgomery, New York, June 30, 2006
On June 30, 2006 at about 7:40 pm local time, a amateur-built Falco F8L, registered N4TB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montgomery, New York (Orange County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate pre-flight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 2006 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Montgomery, New York · Orange County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Falco F8L
- Registration
- N4TB · registry record · serial 886
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the homebuilt Falco F8L reported that he drained three to four cups of water from the airplane's fuel system prior to takeoff. During the initial climb after takeoff, the engine began to run rough and lost power. During the ensuing forced landing, the airplane impacted the ground and was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that the airplane had been parked outside the week prior to the flight, during abnormally high rainfall. The pilot also said he was not sufficiently careful in draining the airplane's fuel tank. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 3,890 hours in all; 480 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 740 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 1, 2002
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MGJ Montgomery NY at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,672 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from MGJ
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.