Piper PA-12 accident near Hammondsport, New York, October 17, 1987
On October 17, 1987 at about 1:37 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N7817H, was destroyed in an accident near Hammondsport, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people 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
- October 17, 1987 · about 1:37 pm local time
- Place
- Hammondsport, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N7817H · registry record · serial 12-713
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PIPER PA-12 EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND MADE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN A CORN FIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MALFUNCTIONS OR MECHANICAL FAILURES. AUTO FUEL WAS BEING USED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. AN FAA STUDY PREDICTS THAT VAPOR LOCK IS MOSTAPT TO OCCUR IN A HOT ENGINE, UNDER HIGH FUEL FLOWS, LOW COOLING AIR FLOW, AND WHEN THE REID VAPOR PRESSURE IS HIGHER THAN 7 PSI (AUTO FUEL IN WINTER IS TYPICALLY 15 PSI).
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: 710 hours in all; 710 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 47 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 5, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: 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.