This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N6185V
- History of Flight:
On August 30, 2026, at about 1234 local time, a Lake LA-4-200 Buccaneer, N6185V, registered to Big Bang Airlines LLC out of Ithaca, NY, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in a accident near Neno Airport (NY55), Ithaca, New York. The airline transport pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The flight originated from Tompkins County Airport (ITH/KITH), Ithaca, New York, at 1156.
According to Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, the airplane departed KITH and proceeded west to an inflight cruising altitude of 2,000 ft. At 1216, the airplane headed northwest after crossing the Kayutah Lake/James & Helene D Allen Memorial Airport (2NY9), Alpine, New York. At 1224, the airplane appears to have conducted a low altitude flyby over Seneca River. At 1226, the airplane proceeded east while climbing to an altitude of 2,300 ft. At 1232:44, the airplane was at 2,100 ft and 115 knots groundspeed. At 1233:30, the airplane descended to 2,000 ft and 91 knots groundspeed. At 1233:39, the airplane entered a right turn while descending through 1,900 ft and was now reporting 81 knots (groundspeed). At 1234:17, the airplane was seen at 1,400 ft and 66 knots groundspeed when it entered another right turn. The last ADS-B data point was recorded at 1234:33. The airplane was at 1,200 ft, 59 knots groundspeed, with an average rate of -600 feet per minute (fpm). This data point was recorded 1,000 ft from the impact site.
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| Figure 1: Flightaware Track |
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| Figure 2: ADS-B exchange data |
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| Figure 3: ADS-B exchange (red) and Flightaware (gray) tracks ran together in Google Earth Pro, note differences |
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| Figure 4: ADS-B exchange end of track |
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| Figure 5: End of both tracks and distance from accident site and NY18 |
A nearby witness stated that the airplane appeared to have mechanical issues prior to going down.
- Pilot Information:
The pilot, aged 52, held a commercial pilot certificate (last issued/updated 3/20/2005) with an airplane single engine land and sea and an airplane multiengine land ratings. He also held an instrument rating and a glider rating. The pilot also held a ground instructor and a flight instructor certificate. His FAA BasicMed Course was dated 11/20/2025.
- Airplane Information:
The accident airplane, serial number 838, was manufactured in 1977. It was an amphibious, single engine, pusher propeller airplane commonly known as a Lake Buccaneer. It was powered by a Lycoming IO-360 SER A&C engine.
The reported stall speed is 45 mph (39 knots)
- Wreckage and Impact Information:
The airplane impacted terrain roughly 0.59 mile north of Neno Airport (NY55), Ithaca, New York. The airplane came to rest nose down and was not consumed by a post crash fire. Both wings and tail remained attached to the airframe. The cockpit was crushed aft and towards the airframe. The engine remained attached to the upper section of the fuselage, both propellers remained attached to the engine. The impact appears consistent with a low altitude aerodynamic stall/spin with little to no forward airspeed.
- Weather:
The nearest weather observation facility was reporting winds 270 at 8 knots, 10 miles visibility, an overcast ceiling at 7,000 ft AGL, temperature 23 °C, dewpoint 16 °C, and an altimeter setting of 30.13 inches of mercury. The calculated density altitude was 2098 ft.
METAR KITH 301556Z 15003KT 10SM BKN130 23/16 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP202 T02280156
METAR KITH 301656Z 27008KT 10SM OVC070 23/16 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP196 T02280156
- Additional Information:
No
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