# NTSB NYC07FAMS1: Piper PA-32-260, N5067T, Westhampton, NY, August 25, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Missing aircraft · Final report - Date: August 25, 2007, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Westhampton, NY - Coordinates: 40.7, -72.583335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7000&lon=-72.5833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67302 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07FAMS1 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67302/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07FAMS1 ## Probable cause Undetermined. The airplane remains missing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Missing aircraft, unknown - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules (VFR) flight when he contacted an airport tower controller and asked if the field was VFR. The controller stated that it was. The pilot advised the controller that he was 15 miles north of the airport, and the controller subsequently cleared him for a straight-in approach, instructing him to report a 3-mile final. About 2 minutes later, the controller asked the pilot for his position, and the pilot stated that he was proceeding to a navigational aid to attempt another approach. The controller then asked the pilot if he would like a contact approach, and the pilot responded that he would. After the controller provided the pilot with the approach control frequency, no further transmissions were received from the pilot. The airplane and the pilot were not located, and were presumed lost at sea. ## Factual narrative On August 25, 2007, about 1415 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-260, N5067T, went missing near Westhampton, New York. The airplane and the certificated private pilot were not located, and were presumed lost at sea. Both visual and instrument meteorological conditions were present in the area. No flight plan had been filed for the flight that originated at Spadaro Airport (1N2) East Moriches, New York. The local personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A review of radio transmissions between the airplane and the control tower at Francis S. Gabreski Airport (FOK), Westhampton, New York, revealed that the pilot first contacted the tower controller at 1339, and asked if the airport was "VFR". The controller responded that it was, which the pilot acknowledged. At 1356, the pilot reported that he was 15 miles, "directly north" of the airport, VFR. The tower controller cleared the pilot for a straight-in approach to runway 19, and requested that he report a 3-mile final. The controller then provided an altimeter setting of 29.89 inches of mercury and winds 220 degrees at 9 knots. The pilot confirmed "straight in for one nine." At 1358, the tower controller asked the pilot for his position, and the pilot responded, "I'm gonna go back to Calverton V-O-R and start all over again. I can't find you. Okay?" After the controller's acknowledgement that the pilot was headed back to the VOR, the pilot confirmed that he would "try it again." The controller then asked the pilot if he would like to contact approach control for vectors, and the pilot responded that he would. The controller then provided the pilot with the approach control frequency, which the pilot read back. The tower controller subsequently contacted approach control, and advised that controller to expect the pilot to contact him. He then repeated the approach control frequency over the tower frequency, but did not receive a response from the pilot. After several minutes, the approach controller advised the tower controller that the pilot never contacted him. He also noted, "I think he's headed eastbound, in the wrong direction." The tower controller subsequently made multiple radio calls to the airplane without receiving any responses from the pilot. He also continued to coordinate with approach control, and later contacted search and rescue. Gabreski Tower did not have a radar repeater in the tower cab. Weather, reported at the airport at 1353, included clear skies. However, news reports indicated fog in the area. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate. He did not hold an instrument rating. On his latest FAA third class medical application, dated February 14, 2006, the pilot indicated he had 2,000 hours of flight time. According to Civil Air Patrol press releases, the search area included Long Island, Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean south of Long Island. On August 28, 2007, the search was terminated with no wreckage recovered. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5067T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5067T-2013-07-08), registration cancelled 2013-07-08, S/N 32-7200030, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7200030 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kennworth Eaton - Registered owner: Air Bahama Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 1N2, East Moriches, NY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: left; flight hours: 2,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 7 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: FOK From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.