Piper PA-24-250 accident near Millbrook, New York, June 24, 1983
On June 24, 1983 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N6438P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Millbrook, New York (Sky Acres airport). It was a business 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 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
- June 24, 1983 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Millbrook, New York · Sky Acres · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6438P · no longer on the register · serial 1550
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT ON FINAL APCH, THE ACFT BEGAN AN UNEXPECTED DESCENT BELOW THE INTENDED GLIDE PATH. REPORTEDLY, FULL POWER WAS APPLIED TO REDUCE THE DWSCENT, BUT THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN APRX 20 FT SHORT OF THE RWY ON AN UPGRADE. THE ACFT BOUNCED IN THE AIR, THEN THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND DURING THE NEXT TOUCHDOWN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT SLID ALONG THE GROUND & WENT OVER ON ITS RIGHT WING. AFTER COMING TO REST, THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER, ENG, BOTH WINGS, NOSE & THE UNDERCARRIAGE.
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: 789 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,506 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 8, 1982; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FRG Farmingdale NY at 1:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,800 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.