Piper PA-12 accident near Palmyra, New York, October 15, 1989
On October 15, 1989 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N765WM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palmyra, New York (Palmyra airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING A TIGHT CLOSED PATTERN TURN TO FINAL. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE PILOT INITIATING FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, WHICH INCLUDED FOG AND REDUCED VISIBILITY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 1989 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Palmyra, New York · Palmyra · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N765WM · registry record · serial 12-3206
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WORSENED SO HE STAYED IN A CLOSED PATTERN TO RETURN AND LAND. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED AT 200 TO 300 FT AGL ON DOWNWIND, THEN A VERY TIGHT TURN AT HIGH BANK ON TO FINAL, THEN A STALL. THE AIRPORT MANAGER REPORTED THE VISIBILITY AS 2,000 FT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 868 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 815 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 9G0 Buffalo NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,000 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.