Amateur-built C.P. 328 accident near Fire Island, New York, September 4, 1995
On September 4, 1995 at about 5:25 pm local time, a amateur-built C.P. 328, registered N4171G, was destroyed in an accident near Fire Island, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilots to maintain control of the airplane while performing aerobatics.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 1995 · about 5:25 pm local time
- Place
- Fire Island, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built C.P. 328
- Registration
- N4171G · no longer on the register · serial 232
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/owner departed with another pilot for a local flight. About 25 minutes later, witnesses 3/4 mile off shore observed the airplane impact the water from a descending spin. Examination revealed no preimpact failure of the airplane or engine. The kit airplane was designed for aerobatic flight. The pilot/owner was not known to have performed aerobatic maneuvers. The other pilot owned an aerobatic airplane, and was known to have performed aerobatics. He had 1750 hours total time; 280 hours in a Pitts S-2 and 1 hour in this make and model. He was observed 2 hours earlier that day in another airplane performing aerobatics over the water near the area of the accident.
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: 520 hours in all; 239 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 239 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1995; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,540 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FRG Farmingdale NY at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from ISP, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.