Beech A36 and Stinson 108-2 mid-air collision near Glen Falls, New York, February 19, 1989
On February 19, 1989 at about 9:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Beech A36 (N1DQ) and Stinson 108-2 (N232C), were involved in a mid-air collision near Glen Falls, New York (Warren County airport). 6 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER. RELATED FACTORS WERE: FAILURE OF THE BEECH AIRCREW TO MAKE A NORMAL LEFT TURN OUT OF TRAFFIC AND THE STINSON PILOT'S VISUAL PERCEPTION DUE TO SUNGLARE.
FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO SEE-AND-AVOID EACH OTHER. RELATED FACTORS WERE: FAILURE OF THE BEECH AIRCREW TO MAKE A NORMAL LEFT TURN OUT OF TRAFFIC AND THE STINSON PILOT'S VISUAL PERCEPTION DUE TO SUNGLARE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 19, 1989 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Glen Falls, New York · Warren County · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 6 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N1DQ · no longer on the register · serial E-979
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Stinson 108-2 · all 108-2s on the register
- Registration
- N232C · registry record · serial 3232
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Beech A36 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CREW OF BEECH A36, N1DG, TOOK OFF FROM RWY 30 AT THE (UNCONTROLLED) WARREN COUNTY ARPT ON AN INSTRUMENT INSTRUCTIONAL FLT. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO TURN RIGHT & BEGIN CLIMBING. AT ABOUT THAT SAME TIME, A STINSON 108-2, N232C, WAS RETURNING TO THE ARPT FROM THE NORTHEAST. FROM THAT DIRECTION, THE STINSON WOULD HAVE BEEN FLYING TOWARD THE SUN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TWO ACFT CONVERGED & COLLIDED ABOUT 1 MI NORTH OF THE ARPT.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Stinson 108-2 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CREW OF BEECH A36, N1DG, TOOK OFF FROM RWY 30 AT THE (UNCONTROLLED) WARREN COUNTY ARPT ON AN INSTRUMENT INSTRUCTIONAL FLT. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO TURN RIGHT & BEGIN CLIMBING. AT ABOUT THAT SAME TIME, A STINSON 108-2, N232C, WAS RETURNING TO THE ARPT FROM THE NORTHEAST. FROM THAT DIRECTION, THE STINSON WOULD HAVE BEEN FLYING TOWARD THE SUN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TWO ACFT CONVERGED & COLLIDED ABOUT 1 MI NORTH OF THE ARPT.
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 for the Beech A36 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,250 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: GFL Glen Falls NY at 9:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from GFL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Stinson 108-2 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 969 hours in all; 661 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 945 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,143 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 26, 1988; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GFL Glen Falls NY at 8:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.