Piper PA-28-140 accident near Locke, New York, March 5, 1987
On March 5, 1987 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N6489R, was destroyed in an accident near Locke, New York. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- March 5, 1987 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Locke, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N6489R · no longer on the register · serial 28-21680
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT OF THE PA-140 WAS PERFORMING A SOLO X-COUNTRY FLIGHT. HE HAD MADE A FUEL STOP APPROX 20 MINS PRIOR TO THE CRASH. WITNESS OBSERVED AN AIRCRAFT FLYING LOW AND REMARKED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED VERY LOUD JUST BEFORE CRASHING INTO AN OCCUPIED DWELLING AND DESTROYING THE HOUSE AND FATALLY INJURING THE PILOT. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL IN FLIGHT FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION/FAILURE WAS FOUND.
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: student
- Flight time: 47 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 17 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,009 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 11, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ELM Elmira NY
- Destination: ART Watertown NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.