Piper PA-32 accident near Poughkeepsie, New York, October 10, 1986
On October 10, 1986 at about 5:32 pm local time, a Piper PA-32, registered N42943, was substantially damaged in an accident near Poughkeepsie, New York (Dutchess CO. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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
- October 10, 1986 · about 5:32 pm local time
- Place
- Poughkeepsie, New York · Dutchess CO.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32 · all PA-32s on the register
- Registration
- N42943 · no longer on the register · serial 32-8306019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIPER PA-32, LANDING WITH A 5 KNOT QUARTERING TAILWIND FROM THE RIGHT, RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK THE WINDSOCK RECEIVING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT AND 2 PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT UPON TOUCHDOWN HE FELT SOMETHING STRANGE ON THE LEFT SIDE TIRE AND COULD NOT KEEP THE AIRCRAFT STRAIGHT WITH THE RUDDER. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE TWO FLAT MAIN TIRES.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 421 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 229 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,038 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, October 9, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1GS (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: General Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: TEB Teterboro NJ at 5:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,003 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.