Globe GC-1B accident near Yates, New York, June 30, 1997
On June 30, 1997 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Globe GC-1B, registered CFNXL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yates, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the cylinder bolts, and the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1997 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Yates, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Globe GC-1B · all GC-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- CFNXL · no longer on the register · serial 260
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Canadian pilot was cruising at 7,500 feet overflying Lake Ontario, when the engine started to run rough. Due to better weather to the south, he turned south and made a forced landing in a field. An inspector from the FAA reported that there were no suitable fields nearby. The tailwheel had separated from the airplane and the wing spars were bent where they attach to the main landing gear. Examination of the engine revealed that cylinder hold-down bolts for the number three cylinder had failed even with the cylinder flange except for one that was stripped. The engine was last overhauled in 1981, about 445 hours prior to the accident.
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: 250 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YXU London, Ontario at 9:45 pm
- Destination: YGK Kingston, Ont.
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from ROC, 35 miles away
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.