Beech 36 accident near Utica, New York, November 12, 1987
On November 12, 1987 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Beech 36, registered N9230Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Utica, New York (Oneida CO. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- November 12, 1987 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Utica, New York · Oneida CO.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 36 · all 36s on the register
- Registration
- N9230Q · no longer on the register · serial 200775
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT WAS ENROUTE FROM BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT TO OLD FORGE, NEW YORK WHEN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE ENCOUNTERED. A REQUEST FOR LOWER ALTITUDE TO ESCAPE WEATHER WAS NO IMPROVEMENT AND A REQUEST TO LAND AT ONEIDA WAS MADE. DURING RADAR VECTORS THROUGH 1200 FOOT CEILING, THE AIRCRAFT PICKED UP A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF ICE. THE FLIGHT BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS AT ABOUT 400 FEET AND TOUCHED DOWN HARD. THE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE LNDG.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,507 hours in all; 411 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 1,377 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,890 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 16, 1987; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BDR Bridgeport CT at 2:30 pm
- Destination: NY41 Old Forge NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,200 ft; scat at 400 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.