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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

February 11, 1988 · Cessna 172P · N52535

East Hampton, NY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 11, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
East Hampton, NY
Aircraft
Cessna 172P
Tail Number
N52535
Operator
East Hampton Aire
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC88LA079

THE FLIGHT DEPARTED EAST HAMPTON AIRPORT FOR A PLEASURE FLT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE PILOT CALLED ON FREQUENCY 122.7 STATING THAT HE HAD STRUCK SOME BIRDS AND COULD NOT MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THERE AS NO FURTHER TRANSMISSION AS TO HIS LOCATION, AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN THE OCEAN. THE PILOT IS PRESUMED FATAL. THE ONLY PART OF THE ACFT RECOVERED TO DATE IS THE HEAD REST. A BOAT IN THE AREA HAD HOOKED ON TO THE TAIL OF THE ACFT BUT COULD NOT HOLD IT. THE RESCUE EFFORT WAS DISCONTINUED DUE TO BAD WX. DIVERS REPORTED UNDERWATER VISIBILITY AS ZERO. THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 1 MILE OFFSHORE.

Full Narrative

THE FLIGHT DEPARTED EAST HAMPTON AIRPORT FOR A PLEASURE FLT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE PILOT CALLED ON FREQUENCY 122.7 STATING THAT HE HAD STRUCK SOME BIRDS AND COULD NOT MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THERE AS NO FURTHER TRANSMISSION AS TO HIS LOCATION, AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN THE OCEAN. THE PILOT IS PRESUMED FATAL. THE ONLY PART OF THE ACFT RECOVERED TO DATE IS THE HEAD REST. A BOAT IN THE AREA HAD HOOKED ON TO THE TAIL OF THE ACFT BUT COULD NOT HOLD IT. THE RESCUE EFFORT WAS DISCONTINUED DUE TO BAD WX. DIVERS REPORTED UNDERWATER VISIBILITY AS ZERO. THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 1 MILE OFFSHORE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:50 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172P
Tail NumberN52535
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorEast Hampton Aire
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-D2J · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 29 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data