Piper PA-28-180 accident near Riverhead, New York, September 11, 1987
On September 11, 1987 at about 7:01 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N15917, was destroyed in an accident near Riverhead, New York (Navy Calverton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- September 11, 1987 · about 7:01 pm local time
- Place
- Riverhead, New York · Navy Calverton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N15917 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7302184
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIPER PA-28-180 EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION WHILE FLYING OVER THE LONG ISLAND SOUND. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH SHORE PRIOR TO DITCHING. THE DITCHING WAS SUCCESSFUL AND BOTH OCCUPANTS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INJURIES. AFTER BEING IN THE WATER FOR A WHILE. THEY VOLUNTARILY SEPARATED AND ONE WAS EVENTUALLY PICKED UP AFTER BEING IN THE WATER 3 HOURS. THE OTHER OCCUPANT DROWNED AND WAS FOUND SEVERAL DAYS LATER. THE AIRCRAFT SANK AND WAS NOT RECOVERED. THE PILOT FAILED TO COMMUNICATE HIS SITUATION IN A TIMELY MANNER AND EVEN AFTER TELLING ATC THAT HE WAS LOW ON FUEL ACCEPTED A DESCENT WHICH REDUCED HIS GLIDING DISTANCE. IN ADDITION THERE WAS NO FLOTATION EQUIPMENT ON THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD PLANNED THE FLIGHT WITH A FUEL BURN OF 8-9 GPH. THE ACFT OWNER, WHO HAD PURCHASED THE ACFT 2 YRS PRIOR, STATED THAT HE ALWAYS FLT-PLANNED FOR 13 GPH WHEN FLYING CROSS-COUNTRY.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,210 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 171 in the last 90 days; 1,110 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,542 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, September 8, 1987; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Newair Flight, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: B19 Bidderford ME at 1:08 pm
- Destination: HVN New Haven CT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 900 ft; not recorded at 900 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from ISP, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.