# NTSB NYC83LA156: Piper PA-28-181, N5615V, Shelter Island, NY, June 27, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 27, 1983, 07:00 local (11:00 UTC)
- Place: Shelter Island, NY
- Coordinates: 41.060451, -72.320175 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0605&lon=-72.3202&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35214
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC83LA156
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35214/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83LA156

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY IN A SWAMP DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND. THE PILOT SAID THE APPROACH WAS NORMAL BUT THAT THE ACFT FLOATED MORE THAN NORMAL. A GO-AROUND WAS INITIATED. THE PILOT COULD NOT REMEMBER IF THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN BUT FELT THE ACFT DID NOT CLIMB PROPERLY. THE ACFT HIT A TREE AND CRASHED. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS AS THE ACFT TURNED FINAL THE PILOT BANKED SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE ACFT SPEED WAS TOO FAST FOR A SLIGHT TAILWIND EXISTING AT THE TIME. THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. POWER WAS APPLIED AND THE ACFT GOT AIRBORNE IN A STALLING FASHION AND CRASHED IN THE SWAMP ACROSS THE ROAD. DURING INVESTIGATION TIRE MARKS WERE FOUND ON THE LAST 250 FT OF THE RWY AND CONTINUED THROUGH SOME HIGH GRASS. NO TIRE MARKS WERE FOUND ON THE ROAD. THE ACFT WAS 200 FT PAST THE ROAD WITH THE LEFT WING SHEARED OFF. THE RWY IS ABOUT 1400 FT LONG WITH A HIGH POINT IN THE MIDDLE SLOPING DOWN TO BOTH ENDS. THE ROAD PERPENDICULAR TO THE RWY IS 50 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5615V (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7790484
- Airframe hours: 5539
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 181 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: London Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 13, 1983, 80 hours before
- Departed: 7B8, WATERFORD, CT
- Destination: 09NY, SHELTER ISLAND, NY
- Airport: Westmoreland, runway 22, 1,200 × 200 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,083 total, 2,671 in this make and model, 2,883 as pilot in command, 174 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BDL

## 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 19830627027509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830627027509A), Jun 27, 1983: Piper PA28181, Shelter Island, NY, Substantial damage. Landed long downwind on a short runway. Tried a belated go around. Too slow to climb. Hit trees in a swamp.

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.