ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Engine failure has been confirmed as the cause of the deadly small plane crash Aug. 1 near Rochester’s Maplewood Park, according to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The report detailed that the Piper J-5-C airplane had not been flown in months. The pilot and Thomas Stewart of Churchville were flying back from Whitfords Airport in Weedsport, Cayuga County, to a private runway near Rochester.
During the flight, the engine surged multiple times, fluctuating from full speed to idle and back again. On the sixth surge, the engine completely cut out.
The pilot attempted an emergency landing on the street, but the plane clipped the top of a tree and crashed to the ground. Stewart was killed in the crash. The pilot survived.
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The report from the NTSB:
Location: Rochester, NY Accident Number: ERA25FA283
Date & Time: August 1, 2025, 13:30 Local Registration: N28151
Aircraft: Piper J5C Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation – Personal
On August 1, 2025, about 1330 eastern daylight time, a Piper J5C, NC 28151, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Rochester, New York. The passenger was fatally injured, and the pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
According to the pilot, the airplane had not flown in several months and he had to remove mud dauber nests from the wings. They took off from a private runway, which was the owner/passenger’s, on the west side of Rochester, New York and flew east for about 30 minutes to Whitfords Airport (B16), Weedsport, New York. They put 6 gallons of fuel in the airplane. The fuel sight gauges in each wing indicated full fuel tanks when they departed. The pilot added that during the return flight home, about 20 minutes into the flight, the engine started to surge. The engine rpm would go from full rpm of about 2,300 rpm to idle. Then seconds later, the engine would return to full power. Each time the engine would surge and go to an idle setting, the pilot would look for a place to land, either a parking lot or street. When the engine would return to full power, the pilot would climb and try to get as much altitude as possible. On the fifth or sixth time the engine surged, it lost all power, and the pilot tried to make a forced landing on a street. During the approach to land, the airplane contacted the top of a tree and then impacted the ground.
The accident site was compact and all major components of the airplane were present. The airplane’s six propeller bolts made 1” impression marks in the blacktop about 10 feet away from the main wreckage. The main wreckage came to rest inverted and oriented on a heading of 235°. The leading edges of both wings were accordion crushed aft down their entire lengths. The fabric was torn on the wings and empennage from impact forces. The empennage was bent upward and forward. The instrument panel was crushed aft. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit controls to all flight control surfaces. No electrical system was installed in the airplane. The rudder and elevator were intact and unremarkable. The ailerons were installed and intact. The left aileron connecting rod was impact fractured. Both wing fuel tanks were breached. There was no fuel in either tank. The fuel gasolator was removed. Dirt and debris was found at the bottom of the gasolator. Air was blown through the fuel lines and no obstructions were noted. No mud dauber nests were found in the fuel system; however, much of the system, including the vent, was impact damaged.
The wooden propeller was still connected to the engine’s propeller flange. One propeller blade was fractured and splintered. The spinner dome was crushed. The propeller flange was impact damaged and the crankshaft was bent. The magnetos were removed and their input drives were rotated by hand. The left magneto produced spark on all leads. The right magneto was impact damaged and the internal gears were crushed. The right magneto rotated but did not spark. The carburetor was fractured into several pieces from impact with the ground. The propeller was rotated by hand and thumb compression was established on all cylinders. A lighted borescope was used to inspect the inside of all of the engine’s cylinders with no anomalies noted.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper Registration: N28151
Model/Series: J5C Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator: On file Operating Certificate(s)
Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: ROC,555 ft msl
Observation Time: 13:54 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 5 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 22°C /10°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 4500 ft AGL Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 8 knots / 17 knots, 40°
Lowest Ceiling: None Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.31 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: NONE
Departure Point: Weedsport, NY (B16)
Destination: Rochester, NY (PVT)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1
Fatal Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1
Serious Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: Aircraft
Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 43.193773,-77.62164 (est)
Administrative Information
Investigator In Charge (IIC): Boggs, Daniel
Additional Participating Persons: Dareal Fergusson ; FAA/FSDO; Rochester, NY
Investigation Class: Class 3
NTSB report: Engine failure caused deadly small plane crash near Rochester’s Maplewood Park WHEC.com.
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