Piper PA-38-112 accident near Westhampton Bch, New York, May 21, 1985
On May 21, 1985 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N26005, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westhampton Bch, New York (Suffolk County 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
- May 21, 1985 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Westhampton Bch, New York · Suffolk County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N26005 · no longer on the register · serial 3881A0092
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LANDED IN A FENCE AFTER HITTING A PWR LINE AND TREES DURING A FORCED LNDG AFTER TAKEOFF. THE ENG LOST POWER AFTER A 10 MIN DELAY FOR ATC CLEARANCE DUE TO A MILITARY EXERCISE. THE PLT SAID HE BELIEVED THAT CARB ICE FORMED DURING THE GROUND WAIT FOR ATC CLEARANCE. THE PLT TRIED CARB HEAT AFTER THE PWR LOSS(A GRADUAL DROP IN ENG RPM). THE PLTSAID THAT DURING THE HOLDING HE WAS IDLING THE ENG AT 1100 RPM. THE TEMP WAS 60 DEGREES F, DEW POINT 57 DEGREES.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 20,900 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 18,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 4, 1985; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FOK at 2:43 pm
- Destination: ISP Islip NY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 9,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from FOK
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 N26005 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.