Cessna 402 and Bellanca 8KCAB mid-air collision near Montgomery, New York, February 26, 1987
On February 26, 1987 at about 8:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 402 (N36139) and Bellanca 8KCAB (N3252M), were involved in a mid-air collision near Montgomery, New York. No one was hurt; 5 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
- February 26, 1987 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Montgomery, New York · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 402 · all 402s on the register
- Registration
- N36139 · registry record · serial 402C0297
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N3252M · no longer on the register · serial 10573
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 402 final · quoted from the NTSB record
BOTH ACFT WERE OPERATING UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES IN THE VICINITY OF ACTIVE AIRPORTS. THE CESSNA 402 WAS IN A CRUISE DESCENT, THE DECATHLON WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT. NEITHER PILOTS IN THE 402 RECALLS SEEING THE DECATHLON, WHICH WAS STRUCK ON THE RT WING. THE DECATHLON PLT TOOK EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID THE COLLISION HEAD ON. THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE MID-AIR COLLISION THEY WERE OCCUPIED WITH WATCHING A MILITARY C5A TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT WHICH WAS OPERATING IN THE SAME AREA. AFTER HEARING AN EXPLOSION IN THE NOSE AREA OF THE ACFT, THE CREW ELECTED TO RETURN TO TETERBORO AIRPORT AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES LATER.
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 Bellanca 8KCAB final · quoted from the NTSB record
BOTH ACFT WERE OPERATING UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES IN THE VICINITY OF ACTIVE AIRPORTS. THE CESSNA 402 WAS IN A CRUISE DESCENT. THE DECATHLON WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT. NEITHER PILOT IN THE 402 RECALLS SEEING THE DECATHLON, WHICH WAS STRUCK ON THE RT WING. THE DECATHLON PLT TOOK EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID THE COLLISION HEAD ON. THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE MID-AIR COLLISION THEY WERE OCCUPIED WITH WATCHING A MILITARY C5A TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT WHICH WAS OPERATING IN THE SAME AREA. AFTER THE COLLISION, THE DECATHLON DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL AND TURNED 180 DEGREES BEFORE THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND RETURN TO ORANGE COUNTY AIRPORT AND LAND WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
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 402 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,435 hours in all; 815 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,013 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 1987; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,850 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-VB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TEB Teterboro NJ at 7:15 pm
- Destination: SWF Newburgh NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 6,006 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Bellanca 8KCAB from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1986; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-320-E1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.