Aeronca 11AC accident near Glens Falls, New York, June 30, 1984
On June 30, 1984 at about 11:33 pm local time, a Aeronca 11AC, registered N3283E, was destroyed in an accident near Glens Falls, New York (Warren County airport). 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
- June 30, 1984 · about 11:33 pm local time
- Place
- Glens Falls, New York · Warren County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 11AC · all 11ACs on the register
- Registration
- N3283E · registry record · serial 11 AC-1654
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A WITNESS NOTED THAT, ON TAKEOFF, THE ACFT APPEARED TO BE OUT OF CONTROL. IT ENTERED A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, THEN 'FELL.' THE PLT RECOVERED BEFORE THE ACFT HIT THE GROUND, BUT THE AIRPLANE 'OSCILLATED IN ALTITUDE UNTIL OUT OF LINE OF SIGHT.' SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH ROCKY TERRAIN ON ARPT PROPERTY ABOUT 1/4 MI FROM THE END OF THE RWY AND WAS DESTROYED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLT HAD 2 CARDBOARD BOXES FULL OF HONEY JARS ABOARD. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT BOTH BOXES HAD BEEN LOCATED ON THE RIGHT SEAT NEXT TO THE PLT. ONE BOX WAS STILL FASTENED TO THE SEAT BY THE SEAT BELT, BUT THE OTHER BOX HAD BEEN THROWN FORWARD. THE INVESTIGATOR WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE LATTER BOX HAD SHIFTED PRIOR TO OR AFTER IMPACT.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 16, 1983; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: FSM Sanford ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 pm from GFL, 1 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.