Piper PA-28-140 accident near Goshen, New York, December 18, 1991
On December 18, 1991 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N55685, was substantially damaged in an accident near Goshen, New York. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER RESULTING FROM THE INGESTION OF A FOREIGN OBJECT INTO THE CARBURETOR AND THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING IN TREES. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE AIRPLANE BY UNAUTHORIZED PERSONNEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 18, 1991 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Goshen, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N55685 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7325457
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT WERE PRACTICING TRAINING MANEUVERS WHEN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE BY THE FAA REVEALED THAT A PIECE OF RUBBER SEAL FROM THE LANDING LIGHT HAD BROKEN LOOSE AND JAMMED IN THE CARBURETOR. THE SEAL HAD BEEN REPLACED BY AN UNQUALIFIED PERSON EMPLOYED BY THE FLIGHT SCHOOL.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,420 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 1,230 as pilot in command; 865 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,781 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 7, 1991; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Century Air INC.
The flight
- Departed from: MMU Morristown NJ at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.