Porterfield PORTERFIELD FP65 accident near Moravia, New York, October 16, 1990
On October 16, 1990 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Porterfield PORTERFIELD FP65, registered N37859, was destroyed in an accident near Moravia, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POWER LOSS AFTER TAKEOFF DUE TO A PARTIALLY CLOGGED FUEL LINE BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND THE GASCOLATOR. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN UNDER THE AIRPLANE WHEN POWER LOSS OCCURRED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 16, 1990 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Moravia, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Porterfield PORTERFIELD FP65 PORTERFIEL
- Registration
- N37859 · no longer on the register · serial 1006
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE LOST POWER ON TAKEOFF. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING AND WAS UNABLE TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH TREES. THE POWER LOSS WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A PARTIALLY CLOGGED FUEL LINE BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND THE GASCOLATOR. THE FAA REPORTED THE TERRAIN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY WAS UNSUITABLE FOR A FORCED LANDING. THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION ON THE AIRPLANE WAS CONDUCTED 14 MONTHS AGO. THE LAST FLIGHT REVIEW FOR THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTED 25 MONTHS AGO.
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: 809 hours in all; 799 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 4AC176B2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: NY36
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 5 knots, gusting 15
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.