Ryan ST-3RR accident near Hamburg, New York, September 25, 1987
On September 25, 1987 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Ryan ST-3RR, registered N400AW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hamburg, New York (Hamburg Airdrome airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- September 25, 1987 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hamburg, New York · Hamburg Airdrome · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan ST-3RR
- Registration
- N400AW · registry record · serial ST3RR
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE ARPT, THE WINDS WERE FROM 280 DEG AT 20 GUSTING 25 KTS. HE BELIEVED THAT WITH THE STRONG X-WIND & GUSTS, IT WOULD BE SAFER TO LAND ON SOD BESIDE THE RWY. DURING THE LANDING, THE MAIN GEAR SANK INTO THE SOD & THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE PLT STATED THE SOD WAS SOFT AFTER A HEAVY RAIN.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land
- Flight time: 850 hours in all; 20 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,236 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 9, 1987; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,885 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kinner R-56 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Geneseo NY at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.