Piper PA-28-140 accident near Cherry Valley, New York, July 12, 1985
On July 12, 1985, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N5602U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cherry Valley, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- July 12, 1985
- Place
- Cherry Valley, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N5602U · no longer on the register · serial 28-26331
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURNG A CLIMB TO CRUISE, THEENGINE RPM DROPPED TO 2000. THE PILOT CHECK THE CARBURETOR HEAT AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS AND DID NOT FIND ANY ABNORMALITIES. THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED A SECOND TIME TO 1800 A SOUND DESCRIBED BY THE PILOT AS A LOUD BAND WAS HEARD AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VEBRATE. THE PILOT SHUT DOWN THE EGIE AND ATTEMPTED THE GLIDE TO SOUTH DAYTON AIRPORT. THE PILOT DECIDED THE AIRPORT COULD NOT BE REACHED AND CHOSE TO LAND IN A NEARBY FIELD. DURING THE FINAL APPROACH TO THE FIELD, THE PILOT NOTICED THE FIELD SLOPED UPWARD. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO FLARE, HOWEVER LANDED HARD.
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: 196 hours in all; 196 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 105 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,740 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 1985; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: D22 Angola NY at 11:50 pm
- Destination: D22 Angola NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from JHW
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.