Amateur-built Arion Lightning accident near Farmingdale, New York, August 6, 2011
On August 6, 2011 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Arion Lightning, registered N723AD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Farmingdale, New York (Republic Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in a strong quartering crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 2011 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Farmingdale, New York · Republic Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Arion Lightning
- Registration
- N723AD · no longer on the register · serial 00115
- 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, during touchdown on the runway, a gust of wind struck the right side of the airplane, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane subsequently veered to the left and the pilot attempted to regain directional control with aileron inputs. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, struck an airport sign and came to rest in a grassy area. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the empennage and left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The pilot landed with a 14-knot quartering crosswind, gusting to 17 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion 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 › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 91 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 36 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 11, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 50 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 31, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 33A 2345 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HGR Hagerstown MD at 3:30 pm
- Destination: FRG Farmingdale NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,516 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 14 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from FRG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.