Piper PA-28-161 accident near Monticello, New York, May 20, 1996
On May 20, 1996 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N38890, was destroyed in an accident near Monticello, New York (Monticello airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the student pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and her delay in aborting the landing. The gusty crosswind condition 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
- May 20, 1996 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Monticello, New York · Monticello · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N38890 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7716284
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was on the return portion of a solo cross-country flight, when she encountered gusty wind conditions. She obtained local weather information, which reported that the winds were gusting to 16 knots. She planned to conduct a landing to runway 01. During the landing attempt, the airplane touched down and bounced, and the student applied power to go around. The student stated that 'By the time I applied throttle for a go-around, a wind gust must have picked up my left wing . . .' She reported that after the left wing came up, the airplane went upside down and slid down the runway. The student reported that there was no malfunction with the airplane. About 7 miles northwest at the Sullivan County Airport, the 0956 edt wind was from 290 degrees at 15 knots, with gusts to 21 knots.
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: 57 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,150 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 5, 1996; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SWF Newburgh NY at 12:45 pm
- Destination: N37
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 2,845 ft by 31 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 15 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from MSV, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.