Cessna 172M and Cessna 177 mid-air collision near Kingston, New York, December 21, 1986
On December 21, 1986 at about 3:10 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172M (N64342) and Cessna 177 (N2981X), were involved in a mid-air collision near Kingston, New York (Kingston-Ulster airport). 1 person was killed; 3 others were unhurt. 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
- December 21, 1986 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Kingston, New York · Kingston-Ulster · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N64342 · no longer on the register · serial 17265180
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N2981X · no longer on the register · serial 17700381
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172M final · quoted from the NTSB record
CESSNA 172M, N64342, WAS ON HIS INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKING OFF ON RUNWAY 33 AT THE UNCONTROLLED KINGSTON-ULSTER AIRPORT WHEN THE PILOT FAILED TO SEE CESSNA 177, N2981X, OR HEAR, ON THE UNICOM FREQUENCY, THE TRANSMISSIONS BY N2981X WHO WAS ON HIS FINAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY WHEN N64342 INITIATED HIS TAKEOFF. N2981X INITIATED A GO-AROUND ON THE THE RUNWAY HEADING. N64342 CONTINUED IN HIS CLIMB AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED AT A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 300 FT AGL OVER THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT OF N64342 LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHEN THE OTHER AIRCRAFT'S PROPELLER MADE MULTIPLE STRIKES ON THE OUTBOARD TOP OF HIS RIGHT WING AND THE AIRCRAFT DOVE INTO THE GROUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE AND BURST INTO FLAMES. THE PILOT OF N2981X EXECUTED A RIGHT APPROACH BACK TO THE AIRFIELD AND LANDED SAFELY.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 177 final · quoted from the NTSB record
CESSNA 172M, N64342, WAS ON HIS INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKING OFF ON RUNWAY 33 AT THE UNCONTROLLED KINGSTON-ULSTER AIRPORT WHEN THE PILOT FAILED TO SEE CESSNA 177, N2981X, OR HEAR, ON THE UNICOM FREQUENCY, THE TRANSMISSIONS BY N2981X WHO WAS ON HIS FINAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY WHEN N64342 INITIATED HIS TAKEOFF. N2981X INITIATED A GO-AROUND ON THE RUNWAY HEADING. N64342 CONTINUED IN HIS CLIMB AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED AT A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 300 FT AGL OVER THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT OF N64342 LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHEN THE OTHER AIRCRAFT'S PROPELLER MADE MULTIPLE STRIKES ON THE OUTBOARD TOP OF HIS RIGHT WING AND THE AIRCRAFT DOVE INTO THE GROUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE AND BURST INTO FLAMES. THE PILOT OF N2981X EXECUTED A RIGHT APPROACH BACK TO THE AIRFIELD AND LANDED SAFELY.
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 for the Cessna 172M from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,360 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 916 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 12, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,250 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 177 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 945 hours in all; 945 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 883 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,345 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 10, 1986; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1B1 Hudson NY at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,250 ft by 20 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.