Cessna 152 accident near New Paltz, New York, August 2, 1991
On August 2, 1991 at about 2:17 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N6494Q, was destroyed in an accident near New Paltz, New York. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) TO ASSURE THAT THE PROPER ALTITUDE WAS MAINTAINED. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE CFI'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1991 · about 2:17 pm local time
- Place
- New Paltz, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6494Q · no longer on the register · serial 152085263
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) BEGAN INSTRUCTING WHEN HE HAD ABOUT 194 HRS OF FLT TIME. HE HAD BEEN INSTRUCTING FOR 2 MONTHS AND HAD ACCUMULATED ABOUT 338 HOURS OF FLT TIME WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE SCHEDULED LESSON FOR THIS FLIGHT INCLUDED STALLS, STEEP TURNS AND FORCED LANDINGS. JUST BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED FLYING AT LOW ALTITUDE IN A STEEPLY BANKED RIGHT TURN WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING 'LOUD AND CLEAR.' A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING 'WIDE OPEN' WHEN THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED BY IMPACT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE AIRCRAFT HAD IMPACTED IN ABOUT A 70 DEG DIVE. WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED IN A FAN SHAPED AREA; THE ENGINE CAME TO REST 252 FT FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 338 hours in all; 112 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 61 in the last 30 days; 150 as pilot in command; 136 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Richmor Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: POU Poughkeepsie NY at 12:45 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.