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Accidents · NTSB NYC93LA081 · Final report

Piper PA-28-161 accident near Farmingdale, New York, April 13, 1993

On April 13, 1993 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N440AV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Farmingdale, New York (Republic Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE CROSSWIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
April 13, 1993 · about 7:30 pm local time
Place
Farmingdale, New York · Republic Airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
Registration
N440AV · no longer on the register · serial 28-7715204
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE STUDENT PILOT SAID THAT DURING THE APPROACH, AND JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY BECAUSE OF A RIGHT CROSSWIND. THE PILOT SAID HE CORRECTED; HOWEVER, DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY SURFACE AND STRUCK THE PRECISION APPROACH PATH INDICATOR.

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: student
  • Flight time: 37 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 4,561 hours
  • Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 31, 1993; 20 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,440 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
  • Operator: Flightways INC.

The flight

  • Departed from: FRG at 6:30 pm
  • Destination: FRG
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 32, 6,827 ft by 150 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 060° at 10 knots, gusting 12
  • Visibility: 20 statute miles
  • Sky: not recorded; not recorded
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.