Beech V35A accident near Milton, New York, August 21, 1983
On August 21, 1983 at about 10:48 pm local time, a Beech V35A, registered N980RP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Milton, New York (Saratoga Company airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- August 21, 1983 · about 10:48 pm local time
- Place
- Milton, New York · Saratoga Company · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35A · all V35As on the register
- Registration
- N980RP · no longer on the register · serial D-8893
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLT ORIGINATED AT ALBANY, NY & CONTINUED TO SARATOGA, NY. PROVINCETOWN, MA, HYANNIS, MA, THEN RETURNED TO SARATOGA. THE TOTAL FLT TIME WAS APRX 3 HRS & WAS CONDUCTED USING FUEL SOLELY FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK. THE APCH TO SARATOGA WAS FROM THE SOUTHEAST. DURING AN ENTRY TO A RIGHT BASE LEG, THE PLT MADE A SHALLOW LEFT TURN, THEN FOLLOWED THIS BY A SHARPER RIGHT TURN ONTO FINAL APCH. AT THIS POINT, THE ACFT WAS SOMEWHAT LOW, SO THE PLT ADVANCED THE THROTTLE, BUT THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENG, BUT WAS UNABLE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES & A HOUSE DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING. BOTH OCCUPANTS RECEIVED HEAD INJURIERS. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH SHOULDER HARNESSES. AN EXAM REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL PROBLEM. THE ACFT WAS PLACARDED: 'TURNING TYPE TAKEOFFS, & TAKEOFF IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING FAST TAXI TURN PROHIBITED. AVOID PROLONGED SLIPS (20 SECONDS OR MORE) WITH FUEL TANKS LESS THAN HALF FULL.'
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: 826 hours in all; 746 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,581 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 1982; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HYA Hyannis MA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: 5B2 Saratoga NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from ALB, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.