Piper PA 22-135 accident near Palatine, New York, July 24, 1999
On July 24, 1999 at about 8:53 pm local time, a Piper PA 22-135, registered N8937C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palatine, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot was impaired by an illegal drug, and entered an inadvertent stall/spin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1999 · about 8:53 pm local time
- Place
- Palatine, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 22-135 · all PA 22-135s on the register
- Registration
- N8937C · no longer on the register · serial 22-1536
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
One witness stated that he saw the airplane fly overhead, and enter a 'sharp' left turn, followed by a left 'tailspin.' Another witness stated the airplane '...made a sharp turn and went straight down.' A third witness stated that he observed the airplane make two complete circles, described as 'loopty loop(s),' but he did not specify a direction. The witness further stated that during the third circle, the airplane was too low to recover. The owner of the airplane stated that the pilot's brother lived near the accident site. He believed she may have been circling her brother's house. The owner further stated that the airplane was not equipped with a stall warning system. Toxicological testing of the pilot was conducted at the FAA Toxicology Accident Research Laboratory. According to the toxicology report, 0.187 (ug/ml, ug/g) of cocaine was detected in the blood.
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: 152 hours in all; 145 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 50 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,247 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 25, 1999; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NY27 Johnstown NY at 8:30 pm
- Destination: NONE Fort Plain NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from SCH, 20 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.