Rotec Engineering, Inc. RALLY 3 accident near Constantia, New York, May 11, 1985
On May 11, 1985 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Rotec Engineering, Inc. RALLY 3 (ultralight), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N302RE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Constantia, New York (Private Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- May 11, 1985 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Constantia, New York · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rotec Engineering, Inc. RALLY 3, amateur-built
- Registration
- N302RE · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND PASSENGER IN A RALLY 3 HAD BEEN AIRBORNE FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES WHEN HE EXPERIENCED A ENGINE FAILURE. THE PILOT SET UP FOR A LANDING AND EVENTUALLY GOT THE ENGINE RESTARTED. AFTER FLYING CLOSE TO THE GROUND FOR ABOUT 1/4 MILE HE STARTED CLIMBING AND TURNED ON COURSE. A SECOND ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO GET A RESTART. THE AIRCRAFT STALLED JUST AS THE PILOT CLEARED A LINE OF TREES APPROXIMATELY 50 FT HIGH.
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: 2,050 hours in all; 600 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 11, 1985; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Constantia NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.