A small plane crashed late Friday morning on Wyndham Way in Ballston Spa, in a residential backyard just behind the Saratoga County Airport. According to witnesses, the plane struck a tree and came down, narrowly missing nearby homes.
A Mooney M20E single-engine plane (N79338) crashed shortly after takeoff from Saratoga County Airport on October 31, 2025, at approximately 10:35 a.m. EDT, coming down in a residential backyard on Wyndham Way in Milton (near Ballston Spa), just south of the airport. The aircraft struck a treetop at approximately 20 feet, fractured the engine from its mounts, and came to rest.
Pilot and Passenger:
- Pilot: Fredrick Baber, 58, of Port Charlotte, FL — fatally injured.
- Passenger (Flight Instructor): Seriously injured; transported to Albany Medical Center.
Flight Details:
- Operated as a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91.
- Departure: Saratoga County Airport (5B2), Ballston Spa, NY.
- Intended Destination: Punta Gorda, FL (PGD).
- No flight plan filed.
- The pilot had recently purchased the aircraft and was required by insurance to fly with a flight instructor due to limited experience in the Mooney M20E.
Sequence of Events (per Flight Instructor Statement):
- The aircraft experienced a total loss of engine power shortly after takeoff during initial climb, approximately 200 feet AGL.
- Engine RPM dropped from ~2,500 to ~1,500, then to ~500 before complete failure.
- The instructor took control, attempted a right turn back to the airport, but realized the plane was too low.
- A slight left turn was made to avoid a house before impacting a tree.
Prior Incident:
- Approximately one month earlier, the same aircraft experienced engine power loss during a test flight by the pilot.
- The pilot safely landed back at the airport.
- Fuel was found contaminated with algae and debris; a local mechanic subsequently cleaned the fuel system and repaired the tank.
Post-Crash Examination (NTSB Preliminary Findings):
- Engine: Continental IO-360 (amateur-built aircraft context noted).
- Crankshaft rotated fully 360° with normal compression/suction on all cylinders.
- Valve train continuity confirmed; no internal blockages.
- Magnetos: Both showed thermal damage from post-impact fire. Left mag drive not free to rotate; right mag rotated but produced no spark.
- Fuel System:
- Fuel flow divider, lines, and injectors clear of blockages.
- No water or debris in right wing tank (~6 gallons 100LL recovered, blue, normal odor).
- Left tank consumed by fire.
- Fuel pump: Diaphragms brittle/destroyed (consistent with heat exposure); no suction/pressure when actuated.
- Airframe: Major components accounted for on-site. Wings, empennage, and control continuity confirmed via torque tubes/fractures consistent with impact.
- Post-impact fire consumed portions of the engine bay, cockpit, and left wing.
Weather at Time of Crash (SCH Observation, 20 NM away):
- Wind: 280° at 19 kts, gusting 28 kts
- Visibility: 10 miles
- Ceiling: Overcast at 2,600 ft AGL
- Temperature: 11°C / Dew Point: 0°C
Cause Under Investigation:
The NTSB is examining fuel system integrity, engine ignition (magneto) failure, and potential recurrence of prior contamination/power loss issue. The engine will undergo teardown; full report pending.
Neighbors assisted in extracting the injured instructor as smoke rose from the wreckage. First responders secured the scene; the residence was not struck.
More at: NTSB Preliminary Report ERA26FA027 (public domain)
