Rockwell 112A accident near Binghamton, New York, August 20, 1994
On August 20, 1994 at about 6:08 pm local time, a Rockwell 112A, registered N1253J, was destroyed in an accident near Binghamton, New York (Chenango Bridge airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot inadequate preflight preparation that resulted in the decision to attempt takeoff on a runway which was beyond the airplane takeoff performance capability to clear obstacles.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 1994 · about 6:08 pm local time
- Place
- Binghamton, New York · Chenango Bridge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell 112A
- Registration
- N1253J · no longer on the register · serial 253
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT INITIATED A TAKEOFF UNDER CALM WIND CONDITIONS ON A TURF RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES APPROXIMATELY 50 FT HIGH AND 350 FT BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE 2000 FT LONG RUNWAY. COMPUTATIONS REVEALED THE AIRPLANE NEEDED 2280 FT WITH THE FLAPS AT 10 DEGREES, OR 1920 FEET WITH FLAPS 20 DEGREES TO CLEAR THE OBSTACLES ON A HARD SURFACE RUNWAY. THE TAKEOFF DISTANCE CHARTS CONTAINED THE FOLLOWING NOTE: 'ALLOWANCE MUST BE MADE FOR WET RUNWAYS, GRASS OR SOD RUNWAYS, OR OTHER ACTUAL ASSOCIATED CONDITIONS WHICH MAY DIFFER FROM THOSE ABOVE.' THE WING FLAPS WERE SET AT APPROXIMATELY 20 DEGREES. THERE WAS NO MANUFACTURER DATA PUBLISHED FOR COMPUTING THE ADDITIONAL TAKEOFF DISTANCE REQUIRED FOR A ROLLING-TURF SURFACED RUNWAY. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED REVEALED NO OBSTACLES WERE PRESENT FOR TAKEOFF ON THE RUNWAY IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,273 hours in all; 367 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,208 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,224 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 1993; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-C1D6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1NK8 Chenango Bridge NY at 6:08 pm
- Destination: TGI Tangier Island VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 2,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from BGM, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.