Raleigh - Hammondsport

On September 11, 1978 at 07:25 PM, Raleigh - Hammondsport experienced a crash involving Rockwell Shrike Commander 500, operated by Mercury Aircraft, with the event recorded near Hammondsport New York.

The flight was categorized as executive/corporate/business and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

5 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 60.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 4, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. While on approach to Hammondsport-Taylor-Van Gelder Airstrip in excellent weather conditions, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck a mountain and crashed few miles from Hammondsport. Two passengers were rescued while three other occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N40MA, MSN 500-3234, year of manufacture 1975.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 42.4079°, -77.2236°.