Navion A accident near Hancock, New York, May 16, 1982
On May 16, 1982 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Navion A, registered N91662, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hancock, New York (Hancock airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 1982 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Hancock, New York · Hancock
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Navion A
- Registration
- N91662 · registry record · serial NAV4-410
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, HE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 20 TO 30 FT AND RAISED THE GEAR. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SINK. HE STATED THAT HE PULLED THE POWER OFF JUST BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND A FEW MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FLAPS WERE NOT DAMAGED, AS IF THEY WERE NOT EXTENDED DURING IMPACT. HOWEVER, THE FLAP CONTROL WAS FOUND IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE FLAPS WERE FOUND ABOUT 20 DEG DOWN AND THE FLAP INDICATOR WAS INDICATING ABOUT 1/3 DOWN. THE INVESTIGATOR CAPPED OFF A BROKEN LANDING GEAR HYDRAULIC LINE AND FILLED THE HYDRAULIC RESERVOIR, BUT THE HAND PUMP WOULD NOT OPERATE DUE TO AIR IN THE SYSTEM THE ENGINE WAS THEN RUN, AND AFTER THAT, THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM OPERATED NORMALLY. THE PILOT SUSPECTED THAT THE FLAPS CAME UP WHEN HE RAISED THE GEAR AFTER TAKEOFF. THIS AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A FLAP SYSTEM THAT WAS TO BE SET EITHER FULL UP OF FULL DOWN. AN INTERMEDIATE SELECTION WOULD NOT INSURE A POSITIVE SELECTED POSITION.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,350 hours in all; 340 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 13,050 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,238 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,233 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Hancock NY at 4:45 pm
- Destination: Danbury CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 158°F (70°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.