NYC94LA184

Factual narrative

On September 28, 1994, at 1945 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 180B airplane, a personal flight, struck and seriously injured a pedestrian during takeoff on runway 01, at Spadaro Airport, East Moriches, New York. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was not damaged. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan was filed. The destination of the flight was Islip, New York. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, "Just prior to lift off an object appeared just right of the nose of the aircraft. At that point I applied maximum back pressure to the yoke in an attempt to clear the object. As the aircraft began to lift off I heard a loud thud come from the underside of the aircraft." The pilot reported he continued his flight to Islip Airport and landed without further incident. He stated that upon landing he felt a slight vibration. During post flight examination he noticed the bottom, and right forward fuselage skin was wrinkled. At this time he was notified that the object on the runway was a person. According to the pilot the airport is not equipped with runway lighting. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS ON A NIGHT FLIGHT, AND HE WAS JUST ABOUT TO LIFT OFF ON HIS TAKEOFF RUN WHEN AN OBJECT APPEARED TO THE RIGHT OF THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE THEN APPLIED MAXIMUM BACK PRESSURE TO AVOID THE OBJECT. HE FELT A THUD ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT CONCENTRATED ON KEEPING THE AIRCRAFT AIRBORNE. HE CHECKED FLIGHT CONTROLS, ALL CHECKED OUT. HE THEN FLEW AROUND THE AIRPORT TO CHECK BUT DID NOT SEE ANYTHING ON THE RUNWAY SURFACE FOR THE OBJECT, SEEING NOTHING HE PROCEEDED ON TO THE DESTINATION. UPON ARRIVAL HE WAS NOTIFIED THAT IT WAS A PEDESTRIAN HE HAD STRUCK. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12