Plane Directed to Land at Closed Long Island Airport Before Fatal Crash

BY JASON KOESTENBLATT

A small plane that crashed, killing its pilot–a Westhampton Beach man–and seriously injuring the lone passenger, was sent to a closed Long Island airport with a nonexistent runway, according to a preliminary investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

The single-engine plane crashed onto the Long Island Rail Road tracks on South Oyster Bay Road in Bethpage on Aug. 16 around 7:47 a.m. The plane left Westhampton Beach and was making its way to Morristown, N.J., the NTSB reported. There were two occupants: the pilot, 59-year-old Joseph Milo, and passenger, Carl Giordano, 55, of New Vernon, N.J.

A review of the communication between Milo, a commercially licensed aircraft operator, and air traffic control revealed the plane was flying around 6,500 feet when the pilot reported “having a little bit of a problem,” the report said.

The pilot reported to air traffic control he would need to “take it down,” meaning land the plane, and was provided with landing options, including LaGuardia and JFK airports, along with Westchester County Airport and Republic Airport in Farmingdale.

Milo then told air traffic control that Republic Airport was closest to his location, but he may not make it there, the report said. Air traffic control then gave information on “Bethpage strip,” and told the pilot the airport was closed, but there was a runway there.

Milo made his way toward that strip, the report said, but told air traffic control that he was unable to see the runway while heading in the direction and descending.

Radio and radar contact were eventually lost, and the passenger, Giordano, told investigators he heard a loud “pop” and a flicker of light came from the engine area, followed by an “oil smell,” the report said. The engine then sputtered, Giordano said, and lost power. Milo attempted to restart the plane but was unsuccessful.

Milo was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Giordano, who is a surgeon in Morristown, sustained a broken jaw and other minor injuries.

The plane was found inverted and burned on the LIRR tracks when emergency responders arrived. The propeller assembly separated from the engine during the accident sequence, the report said, and the right wing was found under the grade crossing cantilever arm.

The investigation revealed the Bethpage Airport runway is now occupied by industrial buildings. The plane crashed approximately 500 yards from the northwest end of the former runway.

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