Piper PA-32-301 accident near Montauk, New York, August 17, 1991
On August 17, 1991 at about 11:45 am local time, a Piper PA-32-301, registered N4368W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montauk, New York (Montauk airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 5 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT MADE A HARD LANDING, RESULTING IN THE MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S INTERPRETATION OF THE WIND CONDITIONS, MISJUDGMENT OF THE FLARE CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO BALLOON AND STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 1991 · about 11:45 am local time
- Place
- Montauk, New York · Montauk
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 5 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301 · all PA-32-301s on the register
- Registration
- N4368W · no longer on the register · serial 32-8406016
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE FLARED THE AIRPLANE AND A GUST OF WIND FROM THE LEFT AND REAR OF THE AIRPLANE CAUSED THE NOSE TO RISE. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD ON THE 3000 FOOT RUNWAY CAUSING THE LEFT MAIN GEAR TO COLLAPSE AND PENETRATE THROUGH THE WING. THE PILOT COULD NOT CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF THE ARIPLANE AND IT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED IN HIS ACCIDENT REPORT THAT THE WIND WAS ZERO.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 446 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 323 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-G5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Three Wing Flying Service,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: BDR Bridgeport CT at 11:00 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 6, 3,000 ft by 85 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 |
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.