Republic RC-3 accident near Gilderland, New York, September 4, 1983
On September 4, 1983 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Republic RC-3, registered N6191K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gilderland, New York. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- September 4, 1983 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gilderland, New York
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Republic RC-3 · all RC-3s on the register
- Registration
- N6191K · no longer on the register · serial 382
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE IN A HAY FIELD AFTER THE ENG LOST POWER. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED A DEFECTIVE FUEL LINE. THE FUEL LINE WAS REPAIRED. DURING A GROUND RUN-UP, THE ENG PRODUCED FULL POWER & THE MAGNETO CHECK WAS NORMAL. HOWEVER, DURING A TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER AGAIN AT APRX 40 FT AGL. THE PLT REPORTED THAT WHILE HE WAS IN A LEFT TURN TO AVOID TREES, CONTROL EFFECTIVENESS WAS LOST & HE COULD NOT LEVEL THE WINGS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED & WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT DISCLOSED FOREIGN MATERIAL IN THE INLET ELBOW OF THE GAS STRAINER. THE PLT STATED THAT THE MATERIAL WAS A BALL OF GUMMY RUST. IN A DIAGRAM DEPICTING ITS LOCATION, HE SHOWED THAT IT WAS NEXT TO A DEFECTIVE HOSE CONNECTION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,300 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 850 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,980 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin B9F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 51B Esperance NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.