Piper PA-28-140 accident near Gardiner, New York, August 31, 1997
On August 31, 1997 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N557FL, was destroyed in an accident near Gardiner, New York (Gardiner airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to initiate a go-around. A related factor is the pilot's misjudgment of speed and altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 1997 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Gardiner, New York · Gardiner · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N557FL · no longer on the register · serial 28-7125397
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the final approach, the pilot was too high and fast, but continued his attempt to land on the 2,400 foot long runway utilizing full flaps. Witnesses stated that the airplane touched down at mid-field, and they did not hear the power being added to the engine until the airplane was near the end of the runway. The airplane became airborne and impacted a wire at the departure end of the runway. The right wing clipped a tree, and the airplane cart-wheeled to the ground. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical problems with the engine or airframe.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 729 hours in all; 522 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 577 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,441 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 15, 1996; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWV Shirley NY at 3:30 pm
- Destination: 5NY5
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from SWF, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N557FL the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.