# NTSB NYC80FA041: Piper PA-32, N777MD, E.Setauket, NY, May 16, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 16, 1980
- Place: E.Setauket, NY · E.SETAUKET, NY
- Location: 40.9210° N, 73.0937° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of East Setauket, NY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9210&lon=-73.0937&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 25, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136391
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC80FA041
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC80FA041

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1828  80/5/16    E.SETAUKET,NY       PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 32, 158
        TIME - 1302                    N777MD              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 13 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RONKONKOMA,NY               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: OTHER
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: SELECTOR VALVES
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- AIR INTRODUCED INTO FUEL SYS THRU UNPORTED L TIP TANK PSN.SLIPPED WITH FLAPS,STRUCK TREES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N777MD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N777MD-1982-03-30), registration cancelled 1982-03-30, S/N 32-40772 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Islip-Macarthur

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19800516015489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800516015489A), May 16, 1980: Piper PA32300, East Setauket, NY, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed during attempted emergency landing.

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.

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