Piper PA-28-140 accident near Farmingdale, New York, November 4, 1997
On November 4, 1997 at about 10:13 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N1469X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Farmingdale, New York (Republic Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his inadequate compensation for the wind condition. A factor was the cross wind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 4, 1997 · about 10:13 pm local time
- Place
- Farmingdale, New York · Republic Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N1469X · no longer on the register · serial 28-7525280
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot stated that this was his first touch and go landing on runway 19, but he decided to make a full stop landing. During the landing flare, the airplane drifted off the left side of the runway, and he added full power to abort the landing. The airplane then exited the runway to the left, struck a tree, and continued on to an aircraft parking area where it collided with a parked airplane. The winds reported at the airport were from 250 degrees at 22 knots with gusts to 28 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
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 104 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 16 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,094 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 9, 1997; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FRG at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 19, 5,516 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 22 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from FRG
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.
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.