Troy – Teterboro

On October 21, 1935 at 11:00 AM, Troy – Teterboro experienced a crash involving Curtiss T-18 Condor I, operated by Chamberlin Flying Service, with the event recorded near Troy New York.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

6 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 5 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 16.7%.

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

The listed crash cause is human factor. Shortly after takeoff, in initial climb, the left engine failed. The crew decided to return to Troy Airport but during last turn, just passing over a small hill, the aircraft lost altitude rapidly, struck one tree and swung into another before dropping to the ground. It burst into flames immediately. All six occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire. The captain died few hours later resulting from his injuries. It appears the aircraft was carrying two couples and was originally planned as a sky wedding flight over New York City. The captain killed in the accident was Harry Hublitz, aged 42. The famous ace feminine pilot Ruth Nichols was among the passengers and was seriously injured.

Aircraft reference details include registration NC725K, MSN G-2, year of manufacture 1930.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 42.7284°, -73.6918°.