Piper PA-24-250 accident near Coram, New York, May 1, 1983
On May 1, 1983 at about 8:46 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N5738P, was destroyed in an accident near Coram, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1983 · about 8:46 pm local time
- Place
- Coram, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5738P · no longer on the register · serial 24-813
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED SHORTLY AFTER DECLARING AN 'EMERGENCY.' A WITNESS SAW THE ACFT, BUT HEARD NO ENG SOUND PRIOR TO THE CRASH. EXAMINATION OF ENG FAILED TO REVEAL ANY DISCREPANCIES. HOWEVER, WHEN THE CARBURETOR WAS EXAMINED NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE LINE BETWEEN THE ENG DRIVEN FUEL PUMP AND THE CARB. THE CARB WAS EMPTY OF USEABLE FUEL.
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: 279 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 184 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,695 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 16, 1982; 89 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ISP Islip NY at 8:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 16 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from ISP, 7 miles away
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.