Cessna 150 accident near Gansevoort, New York, December 12, 1991
On December 12, 1991 at about 12:20 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N1404Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gansevoort, New York (Shaw Field). It was a business 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'S IMPROPERLY PLANNED APPROACH, RESULTING IN A LANDING ON AN ICY RUNWAY AT EXCESSIVE SPEED; AND UNABLE TO STOP ON THE AVAILABLE RUNWAY AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH TREES. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO FLIGHT, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 12, 1991 · about 12:20 pm local time
- Place
- Gansevoort, New York · Shaw Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N1404Q · no longer on the register · serial 15072704
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DID NOT RECEIVE A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO TAKEOFF FROM THE PRIVATE AIRPORT. AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, HE ENCOUNTERED FOG AND DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. HE SAID '[I] RETURNED TO LAND, GOING TO FAST TO STOP AT END OF RUNWAY AND HIT TREES.' THE SOD RUNWAY WAS COVERED WITH ICE.
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: 194 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,655 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Morning Star INC.
The flight
- Destination: 4B1 Duanesburg NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 1,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- 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.