Piper PA-28-140 accident near Farmingdale, New York, November 21, 1983
On November 21, 1983 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N557FL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Farmingdale, New York (Republic airport). It was a ferry 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 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
- November 21, 1983 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Farmingdale, New York · Republic · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N557FL · no longer on the register · serial 28-7125397
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WIND WAS GUSTING 40 KTS WITH A REPORTED LOW LEVEL WINDSHEAR. THE PLT STATED HIS APPROACH SPEED WAS FAST & HE POSSIBLY DID NOT FLARE ENOUGH ON LANDING. THE ACFT LANDED HARD & PORPOISED. ON THE THIRD BOUNCE A STRONG GUST OF CROSSWIND FROM THE LEFT WAS ENCOUNTERED, THE LEFT WING WAS LIFTED UP AS THE NOSE DROPPED, BENDING THE NOSE GEAR SIDEWAYS. THE PROP THENMADE GROUND CONTACT.
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: 117 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 50 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,395 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 26, 1983; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GON Groton CT at 10:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 6,826 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 28 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
Other NTSB records under N557FL the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.