Cessna C-377A accident near Breakabeen, New York, October 5, 1985
On October 5, 1985 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Cessna C-377A, registered N6524J, was destroyed in an accident near Breakabeen, New York. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- October 5, 1985 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Breakabeen, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-377A
- Registration
- N6524J · no longer on the register · serial 337-0416
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ADVISED BY SEVERAL SOURCES THAT BAD WX WAS LOCATED ALONG THE INTENDED ROUTE OF FLT. THE PLT STATED THAT HE INTENDED TO FLY OVER THE BAD WX SINCE WX AT THE DESTINATION WAS GOOD. A MAYDAY CALL FROM 24J WAS BROADCASTED OVER THE EMER. FREQ. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT SPIN OUT OF THE SKY FOLLOWED BY PIECES OF ALUMINUM. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE WX AT THE TIME WAS THUNDERSTORMS, LIGHTNING, HIGH WINDS AND HEAVY RAINS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,674 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 129 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 2,489 as pilot in command; 1,881 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,008 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 11, 1985; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GBR Gt.Barrington MA at 12:30 pm
- Destination: FFT Frankfort KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 12 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from ALB, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N6524J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.