Piper PA-28-151 accident near Farmingdale, New York, March 18, 2000
On March 18, 2000 at about 1:41 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N18AV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Farmingdale, New York (Republic Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a power loss over unsuitable terrain, for undetermined reason(s).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 2000 · about 1:41 pm local time
- Place
- Farmingdale, New York · Republic Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N18AV · registry record · serial 28-7615024
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was giving an orientation flight and departed in VMC. Climbing through about 150 to 200 feet, the engine lost power. Unsuitable terrain was ahead and to the right. The pilot initiated an immediate left turn to remain on airport property. During the turn, the airplane struck a light pole, which sheared off a section of wing and the airplane then struck the ground. The carburetor, which was elevated above the wing fuel tanks, was found full of fuel, with no contamination visible. No evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found and the engine performed satisfactorily during a test run. The airplane had been parked outside and during the preceding 24 hours, there had been periods of rain followed by snow with strong gusty winds. The air duct between the air cleaner and carburetor was recovered; however, it was filled with dirt and no determination could be made about its pre-existing condition.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 701 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 624 as pilot in command; 350 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,761 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 2, 2000; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FRG at 1:41 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 5,516 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 12 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from FRG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.