Amateur-built A-28 Victor accident near Shelter Island, New York, June 20, 2002
On June 20, 2002 at about 1:00 pm local time, a amateur-built A-28 Victor, registered N61450, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shelter Island, New York (Westmoreland airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff, which resulted in a collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 2002 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Shelter Island, New York · Westmoreland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built A-28 Victor
- Registration
- N61450 · registry record · serial SA-28-001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The twin engine tail-wheeled homebuilt airplane was departing a private grass strip. The pilot said that as the airplane lifted off the runway, it angled to left. He attempted to correct; however, the airplane banked to the right and made a sharp right turn. The pilot aborted the takeoff; however, the airplane settled to the ground off the side of the runway, and struck trees. The pilot added that the winds were calm at the time of the accident. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. The pilot reported 295 hours of total flight experience, which included about 27 hours in multi-engine airplanes, all in make and model.
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: 295 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 21, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 250 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Rotax 912S (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Rotax 912S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 49NY Shelter Island NY at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,400 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.53 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from HTO, 8 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.
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.