Casualties unknown

Aircraft veers off runway and strikes tree during aborted landing (N9485P)

Montauk, NY, US

On September 1, 1984, a Piper PA-24-260C (registration N9485P) was involved in an aviation accident near Montauk, NY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a collision with a tree. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

After a hard landing, the aircraft veered right during an abort attempt and collided with a tree, collapsing the landing gear.

What happened

The pilot reduced power after clearing sand dunes short of the runway to prepare for landing. The aircraft decelerated and descended, resulting in a hard touchdown on the runway surface. As the co-pilot initiated an abort procedure, the aircraft veered off the runway to the right side and collided with a tree. The impact caused the left main landing gear and nose gear to collapse.

Findings

The pilot reported that wind conditions were from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. These crosswind conditions may have contributed to the directional control challenges experienced during the aborted landing phase.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a collision with a tree.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001214X41202. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.