Piper PA-28RT-201 accident near Millbrook, New York, May 13, 1988
On May 13, 1988 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201, registered N2819J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Millbrook, New York (Sky Acres airport). It was a ferry 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
- May 13, 1988 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Millbrook, New York · Sky Acres · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201 PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201s on the register
- Registration
- N2819J · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7918158
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RUNWAY 17 AT SKY ACRES AIRPORT AND AFTER REACHNG AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 100 FEET, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ENGINE COWLING EXTENDED VERTICALLY, PARTIALLY ATTACHED. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT, AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES IN A FIELD 1/2 MILE AWAY WITH THE LANDING GEAR STILL EXTENDED. A WITNESS SAW THE PILOT PLACING THE COWLING ON THE AIRCRAFT EARLIER IN THE DAY.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 840 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 3,925 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 970 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 44N Millbrook NY at 8:00 pm
- Destination: HPN White Plains NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,885 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.
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.