Cessna 150 accident near Syracuse, New York, June 3, 1986
On June 3, 1986 at about 2:30 am local time, a Cessna 150, registered N61316, was substantially damaged in an accident near Syracuse, New York (Rochester airport). 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
- June 3, 1986 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Syracuse, New York · Rochester · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N61316 · no longer on the register · serial 15070959
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING DESCENT ABOUT SIX MILES FROM SYRACUSE HANCOCK AIRPORT, THE FLIGHT EXPERIENCED ENGINE VIBRATION. ENGINE LOST POWER AND RESTARTED. HOWEVER WHEN FLIGHT WAS AT 3500 FEET, POWER WAS LOST AGAIN. PILOT SET UP FOR BEST GLIDE AND CRASHED IN A GRASSY FIELD. FULL RIGHT RUDDER APPLIED TO AVOID TREES. THE LEFT WING STRUCK SMALL TREES, SPINNING THE AIRCRAFT 180 DEGREES COMING TO REST IN UPRIGHT POSITION WITH RIGHT WING EXTENDED INTO THE AIR.
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: 532 hours in all; 208 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 532 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,755 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 18, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SFZ Pawtucket RI at 11:25 pm
- Destination: Tulip MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: at 5 knots, gusting 7
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.