Cessna 152 accident near Wyantskill, New York, June 21, 1993
On June 21, 1993 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N714WF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wyantskill, New York (Rensselaer County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE SUPERVISION AND DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND HIS INEXPERIENCE IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1993 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wyantskill, New York · Rensselaer County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N714WF · no longer on the register · serial 15279484
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRPLANE UNDER THE CONTROL OF A 7 HOUR TOTAL TIME STUDENT PILOT, DRIFTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR COMMENTED THE FACT TO THE STUDENT AND AS THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE, IT BANKED TO THE RIGHT AND THE RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK THE GROUND. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE SITUATION BEFORE THE WING TIP HIT THE GROUND AND THEN THE AIRPLANE FLEW INTO TREES.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 317 hours in all; 233 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 240 as pilot in command; 60 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,603 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 10, 1993; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: High Country Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 5B7 at 9:45 pm
- Destination: 5B7
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,670 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from ALB, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.