Swearingen SA-226TC accident near Utica, New York, April 13, 1985
On April 13, 1985 at about 2:10 am local time, a Swearingen SA-226TC, registered N101UR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Utica, New York (Oneida County airport). It was an instructional 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
- April 13, 1985 · about 2:10 am local time
- Place
- Utica, New York · Oneida County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Swearingen SA-226TC · all SA-226TCs on the register
- Registration
- N101UR · no longer on the register · serial TC-233
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A TRAINING FLT FOR EMPIRE AIRLINES. A LEFT ENG FAILURE WAS SIMULATED PAST THE FAF WHEN APRX 300 FT ABOVE MDA. THE STUDENT COMPLETED THE EMERG CHECKLIST WHICH INCLUDED RETRACTING THE LANDING GEAR. THE FLT THEN CONTINUED VISUALLY TO THE RWY. THE CFI REPORTED THE FINAL LANDING CHECKLIST WAS COMPLETED ONCE A SAFE LANDING WAS ASSURED. UPON TOUCHDOWN, A NOISE WAS HEARD WHICH WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN FROM THE NOSE GEAR. THE CFI INITIATED A GO-AROUND AND RETURNED FOR ANOTHER LANDING WHICH WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT INCIDENT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PROPS ON BOTH ENGINES HAD CONTACTED THE RWY AS THE LANDING GEAR WAS NOT DOWN AND LOCKED WHEN THE FIRST TOUCHDOWN WAS ATTEMPTED.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,510 hours in all; 1,700 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 2,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,635 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 9, 1985; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,062 lb
- Seats: 22
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331UW304G (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UCA Utica NY at 5:45 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 33, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.