Piper PA-28-161 N1449H

Summary

On 4 March 2014 at about 21:50 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 registered N1449H, operated by FAA Flying Club Inc, was involved in an accident near Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 March 2014 at 21:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Atlantic City Intl (ACY)

Coordinates

39.4575, -74.5772

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-161

Registration

N1449H

Category

Airplane

Year built

1977

Engines

1

Operator

FAA Flying Club Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atlantic City → Philadelphia

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14LA141

1 person had minor injuries.

A partial loss of engine power at takeoff for reasons that could not be determined during a postaccident examination or engine test run.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said that, before departure, he cleared "minor snow accumulation" from the bottom of the engine compartment. The pilot performed the preflight inspection, engine start, taxi, run-up, and before takeoff checks in accordance with the applicable checklists. The engine accelerated normally during the takeoff roll with a "slight hesitation" at 2,200 to 2,300 rpm as the takeoff continued. When the airplane was at 70 knots and over the departure end of the runway, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. Rather than attempt to return to the runway or land straight ahead to wooded terrain, the pilot chose to perform a forced landing to the airport perimeter road. The airplane's left wing struck a tree and a fence and then separated from the airplane, and the airplane then impacted the road and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies, and, during a test run, the engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran without interruption through several rpm changes. The magnetos were tested and functioned as designed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.