Amateur-built PT-17 and Fairchild PT-19 accident near Geneseo, New York, September 14, 1997
On September 14, 1997 at about 6:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built PT-17 (N64604) and Fairchild PT-19 (N49830), were involved in the same accident near Geneseo, New York (Geneseo Airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other aircraft.
The failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1997 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Geneseo, New York · Geneseo Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built PT-17
- Registration
- N64604 · registry record · serial 75-6811
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Fairchild PT-19 · all PT-19s on the register
- Registration
- N49830 · registry record · serial 5203AE
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built PT-17 final · quoted from the NTSB record
Both airplanes departed the same airport at approximately 1300 Eastern Daylight Time, and flew to the same destination. Both pilots were using hand held radios, which were ineffective above idle RPM. One pilot landed on Runway 23, and the other pilot landed on Runway 5. During the landing rollout, the pilots attempted to avoid a collision, but the left wing of each airplane collided. Both pilots reported the winds to be calm.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Fairchild PT-19 final · quoted from the NTSB record
Both airplanes departed the same airport at approximately 1300 Eastern Daylight Time, and flew to the same destination. Both pilots were using hand held radios, which were ineffective above idle RPM. One pilot landed on Runway 23, and the other pilot landed on Runway 5. During the landing rollout, the pilots attempted to avoid a collision, but the left wing of each airplane collided. Both pilots reported the winds to be calm.
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 for the amateur-built PT-17 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 325 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 325 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,258 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1997; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,810 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental R680-17 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELM Elmira NY at 5:00 pm
- Destination: D52
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 4,695 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,300 ft; scat at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from ROC, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Fairchild PT-19 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 373 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 285 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,763 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1997; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ranger 6-440 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELM Elmira NY at 5:00 pm
- Destination: D52
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,695 ft by 90 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N64604 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 NYC97LA181.