Piper PA-34-200 accident near Oneonta, New York, October 25, 1998
On October 25, 1998 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200, registered N55697, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oneonta, New York (Oneonta airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing. A factor in the accident was the crosswind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 1998 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Oneonta, New York · Oneonta · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200 · all PA-34-200s on the register
- Registration
- N55697 · no longer on the register · serial 34-7350237
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was landing on runway 24. A witness observed the airplane contact the runway, bounce approximately 15 feet in the air, and land 'violently.' Examination of the wreckage did not disclose evidence of any pre-impact malfunctions of the airframe or engine. The nose gear strut had been driven up through the fuselage, and extended 6 to 8 inches above the fuselage in the vicinity of the windshield. Winds reported at an airport about 45 miles south-southwest of the accident site, were from 330 degrees at 6 knots. A pilot who landed 10 minutes before the accident stated the winds were from 300-310 degrees at 5-8 knots.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 522 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 298 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 2, 1998; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360C1E6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DXR Danbury CT at 7:30 pm
- Destination: N66
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from BGM, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N55697 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.