Piper PA-28-140 accident near Haines Falls, New York, May 26, 1983
On May 26, 1983 at about 1:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N1316T, was destroyed in an accident near Haines Falls, New York. It was a personal 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 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 26, 1983 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Haines Falls, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N1316T · no longer on the register · serial 28-7225460
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON THE PREVIOUS DAY, THE PLT HAD FLOWN TO POUGHKEEPSIE, NY. BEFORE HE DEPARTED ON THE RETRUN TRIP, THE MANAGER OF A FLT SCHOOL INFORMED HIM THAT THE WX WAS BAD; HOWEVER, HE TOOK OFF AT ABOUT 0912 EDT. WHILE ENROUTE, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES NEAR THE TOP OF MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 3400 FT. AFTER IMPACT WITH THE 1ST TREE, THE ACFT CONTINUED ABOUT 500 FT BEFORE IT CAME TO REST IN THE WOODED AREA. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS FOUND. STATE POLICE OFFICERS FLYING IN A HELICOPTER REPORTED HEAVY RAIN & LOW CEILINGS IN THE AREA. ABOUT 34 MI NORTH-NORTHEAST AT ALBANY, NY, THE 0948 EDT WX WAS: ESTIMATED 1000 FT OVERCAST, 6 MI VISIBILITY WITH FOG, TEMP 55 DEG, DEW POINT 54 DEG, WIND 60 DEG AT 10 KTS, BREAKS IN OVERCAST WITH HIGHER CLOUDS VISIBLE. THE PLT PREVIOUSLY HAD A STUDENT CERTIFICATE, BUT IT HAD BEEN REVOKED BY THE FAA FOR VIOLATIONS.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 744 hours in all; 481 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,590 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 11, 1983; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: POU Poughkeepsie NY at 9:12 am
- Destination: ART Watertown NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:48 pm from ALB, 34 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.