Beech V35A accident near Acra, New York, July 24, 1983
On July 24, 1983 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Beech V35A, registered N2617A, was destroyed in an accident near Acra, 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
- July 24, 1983 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Acra, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35A · all V35As on the register
- Registration
- N2617A · registry record · serial D-9053
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR VMC EVEN THOUGH HE WAS ON AN IFR FLIGHT. WHILE INBOUND TO ALBANY HE SAID HE WAS CIRCLING DOWN FROM 4000 FEET IN A VFR SPOT TO GET UNDER THE CLOUDS. HE SUBSEQUENTLY CANCELLED HIS IFR FLT PLAN AND SAID HE WAS GOING TO FLY TO GREAT BARRINGTON, LOCATED EAST OF HIS LAST KNOWN POSITION. THE ACFT CRASHED WEST OF HIS LAST KNOWN POSITION. WEATHER IN THE AREA WAS SUCH THAT THE MOUNTAIN PEAKS WERE OBSCURED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,233 hours in all; 31 in the last 90 days; 7,751 as pilot in command; 3 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,779 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 1983; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TEB Teterboro NJ at 10:59 am
- Destination: Great Barringto MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from ALB, 30 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.