Amateur-built Nieuport 24bis accident near Rhinebeck, New York, August 17, 2008
On August 17, 2008 at about 7:50 pm local time, a amateur-built Nieuport 24bis, registered N5246, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Rhinebeck, New York (Old Rhinebeck Airport). It was an air show or air race flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and spin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2008 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Rhinebeck, New York · Old Rhinebeck Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Nieuport 24bis
- Registration
- N5246 · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident flight was a two-airplane aerial demonstration of World War I vintage aircraft simulating a "dogfight," with the entire flight conducted at an altitude about 300 feet above ground level. While maneuvering with the other airplane, the accident airplane entered a "3 turn spin to the left" before it impacted trees and terrain. The wreckage was consumed in a postimpact fire. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. The airline-transport-rated pilot had over 3,800 total hours of flight experience and had logged about 5 hours of flight experience in the accident airplane make and model.
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
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,881 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: November 18, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 21, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Warner Super Scarab S3550 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NY94 Rhinebeck NY
- Destination: NY94
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from POU, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N5246 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.