Na 64 accident near Cambria, New York, June 13, 1982
On June 13, 1982 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Na 64, registered N64BT, was destroyed in an accident near Cambria, New York (Smith'S Cambria airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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 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
- June 13, 1982 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Cambria, New York · Smith'S Cambria · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Na 64
- Registration
- N64BT · registry record · serial 64-2159
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER HE MADE A PHOTO FLY-BY, HE BEGAN TO CLIMB. AT ABOUT 400 FT AGL, THE ENGINE FAILED AND HE BEGAN A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE APPROACH, THE TAIL WHEEL CAUGHT ON TWO ELECTRICAL WIRES AND THE AIRCRAFT PANCAKED ONTO A PAVED ROAD, THEN SLID INTO A PLOWED FIELD. A LIVE WIRE WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE TAIL WHEEL. DURING IMPACT, THE FUEL TANKS RUPTURED, AND REPORTEDLY, THE LIVE WIRE IGNITED THE FUEL. AN ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED THAT THE IMPELLER HAD FAILED. THE FORE AND AFT BALL BEARINGS THAT SUPPORT THE IMPELLER WERE BURNT AND DETERIORATED. THE BALLS WERE FLATTENED AND FOUND LOOSE FROM THE RACES. THE IMPELLER BLADES WERE DAMAGED AND THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE IMPELLER FACE HAD MILLED AND GOUGED THE DIFFUSER SECTION.
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
- Flight time: 2,025 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright R-975 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 9G0 Buffalo NY at 12:00 pm
- Destination: NK25 Lockport NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 158°F (70°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.