Amateur-built XP503 accident near Baldwinsville, New York, May 6, 1988
On May 6, 1988 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built XP503 (ultralight), registered N29CH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Baldwinsville, New York (Pvt Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- May 6, 1988 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Baldwinsville, New York · Pvt Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built XP503
- Registration
- N29CH · no longer on the register · serial DR0214
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT DURING A PREFLT, HE NOTED THE FUEL TANK WAS ABOUT 1/4 FULL. HE RPRTD THAT AS HE WAS TAKING OFF, THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THRU ABOUT 200 FT AGL, WHEN THE ENG LOST POWER. FROM THAT POSITION, HE WAS UNABLE TO RTRN TO THE ARPT OR GLIDE TO AN OPEN FIELD. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREE(S), THEN FELL TO THE GROUND. THE OWNER/BUILDER/PLT OF THE HOME BUILT ACFT RPRTD THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS NOT IN THE PROPER POSITION IN THE FUEL TANK. HE INDICATED THE ACDNT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY PROPERLY SECURING THE FUEL LINE.
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
- Flight time: 485 hours in all; 485 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 185 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 210 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 28, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 770 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 600 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from UTIC
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.