Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Babylon, New York, March 22, 1993
On March 22, 1993 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N56153, was substantially damaged in an accident near Babylon, New York. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE INTAKE VALVE FAILURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 1993 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Babylon, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N56153 · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7335367
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT WERE ON A RETURN FLIGHT AFTER PRACTICING SOME COMMERCIAL MANEUVERS, WHEN THERE WAS A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING THE CLIMB TO CRUISE FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTOR, WHEN THE LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED AT ABOUT 1200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, HE IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE AIRPLANE TO A 180 DEGREE HEADING AND COMPLETED THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. HE STATED THAT HE ARRIVED OVER OCEAN PARKWAY AT 100 FEET MSL AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND IN A LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE BEFORE COMING TO REST ON THE WEST BOUND LANE OF OCEAN PARKWAY. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE BY THE FAA REVEALED ZERO COMPRESSION IN BOTH THE NUMBER 1 AND 2 CYLINDERS. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE CYLINDERS REVEALED FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 1 INTAKE VALVE TIP AND DAMAGE TO THE NUMBER 2 AND 4 CYLINDERS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 590 hours in all; 67 in this make and model; 420 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,445 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 22, 1992; 815 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flying Ten INC.
The flight
- Departed from: HWV Shirley NY at 4:00 pm
- Destination: FRG Farmingdale NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 23,000 ft; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:40 pm from FRG, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.