Accident Overview
A pilot was repositioning an aircraft at night from an unspecified location to his home airport in Kingston. He received VFR advisories from New York TRACON for routing to Teterboro and was instructed to continue north below the TCA, along the Hudson River to Kingston.
ATC Communication and Clearance
An air traffic controller issued a clearance as requested, provided weather information, and told the pilot to maintain 2500 feet. Minutes later, the pilot requested a lower altitude and was approved for flight through the Teterboro Airport traffic area. He reported 'the George Washington Bridge in sight' and said he no longer needed radar service. At 2222 EDT, radar service was terminated 2 miles east of Teterboro, and there was no further radio contact with the aircraft.
Accident Sequence
Subsequently, the aircraft hit trees and crashed near a hilltop while heading southwest over an artillery range on the West Point Military Academy. Radar data showed that after radar service was terminated, the aircraft continued north between 1800 and 1200 feet MSL until radar contact was lost approximately 3 miles south of the artillery range.
Witness Observations
A witness located 2 miles south of the crash site saw an aircraft circling at low altitude before continuing north. She reported conditions as rainy, cloudy, and very dark.
Mechanical Examination
No preimpact mechanical problems were found with the aircraft.