Piper PA-23-250 accident near East Hampton, New York, July 1, 1988
On July 1, 1988 at about 11:19 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N62771, was destroyed in an accident near East Hampton, New York (East Hampton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 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
- July 1, 1988 · about 11:19 pm local time
- Place
- East Hampton, New York · East Hampton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N62771 · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS ON DOWNWIND OF A VFR TRAFFIC PATTERN. HE STATED THAT JUST AFTER ENTERING DOWNWIND HE LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR. AS THE SPEED DECREASED BELOW 132 KNOTS HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLES. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. HE REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT PROPELLER RPM SUDDENLY INDICATED 3200. EVENTUALLY THE RPM RECOVERED TO 2700. THE PILOT FELT THAT TOO MUCH ALTITUDE HAD BEEN LOST AND PUT ALL CONTROLS FORWARD WITH ONLY A PARTIAL RESPONSE. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BY THE FAA AND THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO REVEALANY MALFUNCTION OR ABNORMALITIES.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TEB Teterboro NJ at 10:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,242 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.