Piper PA-28-181 accident near Montauk, New York, September 9, 2010
On September 9, 2010 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N2753M, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Montauk, New York (Montauk Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions which resulted in a hard landing and loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2010 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Montauk, New York · Montauk Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N2753M · no longer on the register · serial 28-7890243
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, as he approached his destination airport, he requested airport advisories over the UNICOM frequency. He was advised that traffic was landing on runway 24, and the wind was reported at 310 degrees at 9 knots. During his first approach he believed he was too high and executed a go-around. He re-entered the pattern and as the airplane descended to the runway, it encountered windshear and stalled. The pilot made an attempt to go-around, but the airplane was too low and slow. He was unable to maintain the airplane's altitude, and it landed hard and veered off the left side of the runway. The airplane struck trees and the right wing was torn from the fuselage. The reported wind at the accident airport near the accident time was from 290 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots.
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
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 152 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 82 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 21, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: 43Rd Aviation Flying Club INC
The flight
- Departed from: HFD Hartford CT at 10:00 pm
- Destination: HFD Hartford NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,481 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.71 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from MTP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.