Summary
On August 07, 1996, a Aerofab Inc. LAKE 250 (N8428F) was involved in an accident near Adirondack, NY. The accident resulted in 2 minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in his failure to ensure that he could maintain sufficient altitude and clearance from mountainous terrain after entering a blind canyon. Haze and the terrain were related factors.
On August 7, 1996, at 1330 eastern daylight time (EDT), an Aerofab, Inc., Lake 250, N8428F, crashed in mountainous terrain 10 miles south of Saranac Lake, in Adirondack, New York. The certificated commercial pilot and the one passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated in Burlington, Vermont, at 1130 EDT. The intended destination was Saranac Lake, in Adirondack, New York.
According to the pilot, he was sightseeing, looking for a resort area. He stated that he circled looking for a landing area, but decided not to land at that lake.
This accident is documented in NTSB report IAD96LA129. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N8428F.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in his failure to ensure that he could maintain sufficient altitude and clearance from mountainous terrain after entering a blind canyon. Haze and the terrain were related factors.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On August 7, 1996, at 1330 eastern daylight time (EDT), an Aerofab, Inc., Lake 250, N8428F, crashed in mountainous terrain 10 miles south of Saranac Lake, in Adirondack, New York. The certificated commercial pilot and the one passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated in Burlington, Vermont, at 1130 EDT. The intended destination was Saranac Lake, in Adirondack, New York.
According to the pilot, he was sightseeing, looking for a resort area. He stated that he circled looking for a landing area, but decided not to land at that lake. He stated that he initiated a climb between two mountain ranges, but,"...I became uncomfortable with my choice of which mountain pass to traverse...at this point everything started to go awry. Although the sound of the engine remained essentially unchanged, it became difficult for me to continue a climb...I was rapidly losing my clearance above the tree tops...I was close enough to the ground that I didn't dare take my eyes and attention into the cockpit. At this point the yoke began to feel mushy, and I advanced the engine and propeller controls. The stall warning horn sounded once...The engine and propeller noise still sounded normal, but the stall warning horn sounded a second time and a third time...I had to make a controlled stall-type landing onto the tree tops... ."
According to a Federal Aviation Administration Safety Inspector, the pilot reported that he could not see the ridge clearly due to the haze. The FAA Safety Inspector reported that the accident site was at an approximate elevation of 2900 feet. The height of the mountain was 3300 feet.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# IAD96LA129