Beech B19 accident near Rockohoma, New York, June 5, 2010
On June 5, 2010 at about 7:05 pm local time, a Beech B19, registered N1958W, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Rockohoma, New York (Long Island Mac Arthur Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which resulted in a total loss of engine power during the initial climb due to fuel contamination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2010 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Rockohoma, New York · Long Island Mac Arthur Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B19 · all B19s on the register
- Registration
- N1958W · no longer on the register · serial MB-623
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), he and the student were planning to practice takeoffs and landings. During the first takeoff approximately 400 feet above ground level, the engine power began to degrade and lose power. The CFI took control of the airplane, checked the throttle and mixture position and looked for a suitable place to perform a forced landing. During the landing, the airplane impacted a nearby parking lot, came to rest against a building, and was engulfed in fire. A postaccident examination revealed several tablespoons of water in the carburetor. The CFI reported that he had completed a normal preflight inspection. Examination of the fuel system did not disclose any evidence of a mechanical malfunction.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 57 hours in all; 51 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,226 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 2010
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ISP Islip NY at 7:04 pm
- Destination: ISP Islip NY
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 24, 7,006 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.63 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from ISP, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.