Republic Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Farmingdale, New York 11735
Saturday, March 18, 2000 8:41 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was giving an orientation flight and departed in VMC. Climbing through about 150 to 200 feet, the engine lost power. Unsuitable terrain was ahead and to the right. The pilot initiated an immediate left turn to remain on airport property. During the turn, the airplane struck a light pole, which sheared off a section of wing and the airplane then struck the ground. The carburetor, which was elevated above the wing fuel tanks, was found full of fuel, with no contamination visible. No evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found and the engine performed satisfactorily during a test run. The airplane had been parked outside and during the preceding 24 hours, there had been periods of rain followed by snow with strong gusty winds. The air duct between the air cleaner and carburetor was recovered; however, it was filled with dirt and no determination could be made about its pre-existing condition.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a power loss over unsuitable terrain, for undetermined reason(s).

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/18/2000
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 841
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City FARMINGDALE
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 11735
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport REPUBLIC AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FRG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 82
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 851 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID FRG
Elevation of weather observation facility 82
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 19
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 185
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 18 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Aug 13 2001 1:57PM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N18AV
NTSB Number NYC00LA093
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-151
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-151
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7615024
Certified Max Gross Weight 2325
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Mar 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 7761
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIRCRAFT LEASING INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 10 SAW MILL LANE
Aircraft Owner City COLD SPRING HBR
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 11724
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FLIGHTWAYS OF LONG ISLAND
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address ROUTE 109, REPUBLIC AIRPORT
Operator City FARMINGDALE
Operator State NY
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 11735
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code FRG
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 841
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 1
Runway Length 5516
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --