Aeronca 65-LB accident near Auburn, New York, June 12, 1983
On June 12, 1983 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Aeronca 65-LB, registered N31772, was substantially damaged in an accident near Auburn, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- June 12, 1983 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Auburn, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 65-LB · all 65-LBs on the register
- Registration
- N31772 · no longer on the register · serial LB11070
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE WAS EN ROUTE WHEN THE ENG LOST POWER. HE MANEUVERED FOR A FORCED LANDING IN A NEARBY HAY/CORN FIELD. DURING THE FLARE, THE ENG REGAINED POWER MOMENTARILY & LIFTED ABOUT 50 FT. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED WIND GUSTS, TURNED TO THE LEFT & CRASHED IN A CORN FIELD. IMPACT OCCURRED IN ABOUT A 45 DEG LEFT BANK. THE PLT REPORTED THE WX AS CLEAR, VISIBILITY 7 MI, WIND FROM 270 DEG AT 12 GUSTING 17 KTS, TEMP 82 DEG, DEW POINT 80 DEG. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT HE TOOK OFF AT 1300 EDT WITH 13 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD.
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: 94 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 63 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,025 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 26, 1983; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-145 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0NY9 Piselo Lake NY at 6:00 pm
- Destination: Pavilion NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 81°F (27°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.