Amateur-built VAN RV-6 accident near Monticello, New York, October 31, 1995
On October 31, 1995 at about 8:21 pm local time, a amateur-built VAN RV-6, registered N9234B, was destroyed in an accident near Monticello, New York (Sullivan County Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper inflight decision to continue flight without sufficient fuel, which resulted in a loss of power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 1995 · about 8:21 pm local time
- Place
- Monticello, New York · Sullivan County Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VAN RV-6
- Registration
- N9234B · registry record · serial 20047
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed with 10 gallons of fuel onboard and with the intention of refueling at a nearby airport. After he arrived at the airport, instead of refueling, he remained in the traffic pattern and performed touch-and-go landings. After the fifth landing, the engine lost power while the airplane was on initial climb and struck trees during a forced landing. No evidence of a fuel spill or fuel odor was observed by those, who responded to the site. The airplane had been airborne for about 50 to 55 minutes, when the power loss occurred.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,182 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,011 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 89 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 30, 1994; 89 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MSV Montgomery NY at 7:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 6,300 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:14 pm from MSV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC96LA021.