Siai-Marchetti S.205/22R accident near Farmingdale, New York, October 17, 2010
On October 17, 2010 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Siai-Marchetti S.205/22R, registered N934W, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Farmingdale, New York (Republic airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power during a low approach for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 17, 2010 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Farmingdale, New York · Republic · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Siai-Marchetti S.205/22R · all S.205/22Rs on the register
- Registration
- N934W · no longer on the register · serial 4-181
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting a low approach about 300 to 400 feet above the runway when the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a road about 0.25 mile east-northeast of the departure runway. One of the passengers reported that the engine was "missing and surging" prior to the loss of engine power. A witness at the airport noted that the engine noise was smooth and steady as the airplane climbed to an altitude of about 500 to 600 feet above the ground before it suddenly sputtered and went quiet. The pilot reported that, earlier, he had aborted a takeoff due to a low cylinder temperature indication. He said that he believed that the engine may have had a fouled spark plug, which he believed had been corrected during a subsequent engine run-up. One of the passengers reported that the engine had run rough during the aborted takeoff. The airplane was maintained by the pilot and had been operated for about 17 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 6 weeks prior to the accident. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine, which included a carburetor flow check and examination of all spark plugs, revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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 maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Not specified
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 860 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 4, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,905 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2010; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,976 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Franklin 6A-350-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FRG Farmingdale NY at 12:51 pm
- Destination: FRG Farmingdale NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 6,833 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from FRG, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA11FA021.