Cessna 150M accident near Farmingdale, New York, October 5, 1986
On October 5, 1986 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N66256, was destroyed in an accident near Farmingdale, New York (Farmingdale Republic airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- October 5, 1986 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Farmingdale, New York · Farmingdale Republic · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N66256 · no longer on the register · serial 15075959
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS RETURNING HOME AFTER FLYING FOR APRX 2 1/2 HOURS. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD STARTED THE FLT WITH FULL FUEL TANKS. THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND THE PLT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING AT AN ARPT. HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RWY AND THE ACFT WAS LANDED IN A CEMETERY. DURING POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ACFT NO ODOR OF FUEL WAS NOTED NOR WAS ANY FUEL FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS. THE ENGINE PERFORMED SATISFACTORLY DURING AN TEST RUN.
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: 1,276 hours in all; 1,273 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1,225 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 1985; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ISP Islip NY at 11:11 am
- Destination: ISP Islip NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 6,827 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 16 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:40 pm from FRG, 1 miles away
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.