Piper PA-28-180 accident near Farmingdale, New York, February 20, 2024
On February 20, 2024 at about 4:41 pm local time, a 1975 Piper PA-28-180, registered N33667, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Farmingdale, New York (Republic Airport). 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 student pilot’s lack of fuel management during the flight and the flight instructor’s inadequate monitoring of his student’s fuel management, resulting in fuel starvation and a forced landing to a highway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 2024 · about 4:41 pm local time
- Place
- Farmingdale, New York · Republic Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180, built 1975 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N33667 · registry record · serial 28-7505166
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot in the left seat and his instructor in the right seat were preparing for a local flight. They estimated that there were about 30 gallons of fuel on board prior to departure; 17 gallons in the left tank and 13 gallons in the right tank. After airwork and emergency procedures practice, they returned to the departure airport for some takeoffs and landings. During the second approach to landing, about two hours into the flight, the student pilot advanced the throttle; however, the engine did not respond. Since they were at low altitude, the instructor took the controls and landed the airplane on a nearby highway. After touchdown, the right wing struck a road sign, partially severing the wing. The pilots egressed the airplane and were not injured. An examination of the wreckage by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The fuel tank selector handle, which was located near the student pilot’s left leg, was found in the LEFT tank position. The left wing fuel tank was uncompromised and contained about ½ gallon of fuel. Although the flight instructor stated that he reminded the student several times to switch tanks, the student did not recall ever switching tanks during the flight. The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Fuel starvation during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 555 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 104 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 469 as pilot in command; 260 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 8, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 22 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,180 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 30, 2023; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 6,979 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 1, 5,516 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.52 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KFRG, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFRG 201653Z 02003KT 10SM CLR 01/M13 A3052 RMK AO1 SLP335 T00061128
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Main Wreckage
Photograph 2 – Main Wreckage
Photograph 3 – Main Wreckage
Photograph 4 – Fuel Tank Selector
Photograph 5 – Cockpit ControlsThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on April 12, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilots' Written Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Interview Summaries - Flight Instructor and Student | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Interview Summary - Pilot of Previous Flight | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.