Cites At Least 18 Accidents In New York In 2016, Several In Recent Weeks

With what he calls a spate of New York-area aviation accidents involving small aircraft continuing, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer is urging the NTSB to launch an in-depth investigation the accidents and determine whether additional steps are necessary to help ensure safe skies.

According to a news release, Schumer (pictured) said that last week alone, two such accidents occurred. One aircraft impacted a neighborhood in New Jersey and nearly hit a home after the plane took off from Long Island, and the other plane went down on Long Island. However, Schumer said that at least 18 other small plane accidents occurred in New York last year. Of those, at least 10 accidents occurred on Long Island. Schumer said that, in addition to its case-by-case investigations, the NTSB should investigate whether there is a larger trend that could reveal clues and help prevent future small plane crashes in our area.

“We’re only a few months into 2017 and already we’ve seen two small plane crashes here in the New York-metro area. It’s high time for the NTSB to see why these plane crashes are happening at such an alarming rate,” said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. “Safety is our number one priority and an NTSB investigation could reveal new clues that make our skies safer. In addition to its case-by-case investigations, the NTSB should launch a more comprehensive investigation that might connect the dots on a larger trend."‎

Last month saw two New York-area accidents occur in the span of a week:

February 19, 2017- a single-engine Piper PA-28 took off from Republic Airport and went down into a residential area of Bayonne, N.J. Only the pilot suffered minor injuries, but the plane impacted terrain in a neighborhood and nearly hit a home.
February 26, 2017- a Nation F. being used for practice at the Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach impacted terrain feet away from the runway causing two fatalities and leaving one passenger with minor injuries.

Schumer has sent a letter to NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart calling for the investigation.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.schumer.senate.gov