The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB NYC86LA198 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Piper PA-38-112 accident near Farmingdale, New York, August 5, 1986

On August 5, 1986 at about 7:39 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N9359T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Farmingdale, New York (Farmingdale airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
August 5, 1986 · about 7:39 pm local time
Place
Farmingdale, New York · Farmingdale
Type
Accident
Injuries
2 people had minor injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
Registration
N9359T · no longer on the register · serial 3878A0067
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PIPER PA-38-112 HAD JUST TAKEN OFF AND WAS ON CROSSWIND WHEN IT EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS. THE PILOT LANDED IN A CEMETARY AND BOTH THE PILOT AND PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED FUEL IN THE TANKS. THE ENGINE AS TEST RAN SATISFACTORILY. THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS WAS NOT DETERMINED.

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: 173 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 124 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 1,889 hours
  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 60 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
  • Operator: Mac Carmac Aviation, INC.

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 19, 5,516 ft by 150 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 170° at 10 knots
  • Visibility: 20 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
  • Observation at 7:39 pm from FRG, 1 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1
Passengers1

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.