Piper PA-23 accident near Shirley, New York, July 14, 1990
On July 14, 1990 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-23, registered N44HH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shirley, New York (Brookhaven airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S LACK OF QUALIFICATIONS, THE IMPROPER USE OF FLIGHT CONTROLS, THE SECOND PILOT'S LACK OF QUALIFICATIONS, AND HIS DECISION TO SIMULATE THE ENGINE FAILURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1990 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Shirley, New York · Brookhaven · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23 · all PA-23s on the register
- Registration
- N44HH · registry record · serial 23-458
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AT THE CONTROLS HELD A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE WITH A SINGLE ENGINE LAND AIRPLANE RATING. THE SECOND PILOT HELD A COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE WITH A MULTI ENGINE RATING, BUT DID NOT HOLD A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE. THE PRIVATE PILOT INITIATED A TAKEOFF IN THE MULTI ENGINE AIRPLANE AND WAS OBSERVED BY A POLICE OFFICER/PILOT TO BE APPROXIMATELY 75 TO 100 FEET IN THE AIR. THE AIRPLANE THEN DESCENDED AND CONTACTED THE GROUND OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY AFTER A SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE. THE PILOT INDICATED HE HAD A TOTAL TIME OF 4 HOURS IN MAKE AND MODEL.
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: 683 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 606 as pilot in command; 120 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,407 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 1990; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: HWV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 4,325 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:10 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N44HH the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.