Amateur-built TIERRA II accident near Plattsburgh, New York, June 20, 1988
On June 20, 1988, a amateur-built TIERRA II, registered N4462T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plattsburgh, New York (Clinton County airport). It was a personal 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
- June 20, 1988
- Place
- Plattsburgh, New York · Clinton County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TIERRA II
- Registration
- N4462T · no longer on the register · serial 308482458
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE PLT WAS ON HIS 2ND FLT OF THE DAY IN A RECENTLY PURCHASED ULTRALIGHT TYPE OF ACFT. THEY RPRTD THAT AFTER THE ACFT TOOK OFF FROM RWY 32, IT CLIMBED TO ABOUT 300' AGL & ROLLED INTO A STEEP RIGHT BANK. ITS NOSE THEN DROPPED & THE ACFT ENTERED A STEEP DESCENT & CRASHED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR WAS INOP. THE PLT HAD NO KNOWN FLT TIME IN THIS MAKE & MODEL OF ACFT BEFORE THE DATE OF THE ACDNT. THE ACFT WAS BUILT IN A 2 PLACE CONFIGURATION, BUT WAS ALTERED TO CONTAIN ONLY 1 SEAT.
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: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 61 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 6, 1988; 1 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier ROTAX 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PLB at 11:44 pm
- Destination: PLB
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from PLB
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.