# Accident 19971011030589A: Piper PA28R180, Matawan, NY, October 11, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 11, 1997, 10:40 local time
- Place: Matawan, NY
- Airport: Marlboro Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft: N3981T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3981T-1999-02-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-180 (registry code 7102809, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R180
- Reported engine: LYC IO360B1E
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- Pilot flight hours: 486 total, 79 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC98FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98FA009) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971011030589A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

CRASHED ENROUTE. DETAILS UNKNOWN. CLOGGED FUEL NOZZLES AND LOW CYL COMPRESSION FACTORS. HIGH IMPACT INDICATES. STAL (.4) THE PILOT TOOK OFF IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRPLANE'S MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AND CLEARED 50 FOOT HIGH TREES 75 FEET BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE COMPLETED A RIGHT 180 DEGREE TURN, DESCENDED, AND COLLIDED WITH TREES WITH THE RETRACTABLE LANDING GEAR STILL EXTENDED. MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER HAD BEEN REMOVED DUE TO LOW COMPRESSION 295 HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT TO REPLACE AN EXHAUST VALVE, AND AGAIN 76 HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT DUE TO LOW COMPRESSION TO REFACE THE VALVES. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER FUEL INJECTOR NOZZLE WAS PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTED. AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON THE AIRPLANE BETWEEN THE TWO REMOVALS OF THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER, BY THE MAINTENANCE FACILITY PERFORMING THE ENGINE MAINTENANCE. THE LANDING GEAR HAD BEEN WRITTEN UP BY THE PILOTS ON FIVE OCCASIONS IN THE 3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, FOR NOT RETRACTING AFTER TAKEOFF, AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO BE FLOWN WITH THE WRITE-UPS. THE LAST WRITE UP OCCURRED 7 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT                                       AND REMAINED OPEN. MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ON THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM AFTER THE LAST WRITE-UP AND NOT DOCUMENTED IN THE AIRPLANE'S LOGBOOKS. (-23) ANALYSIS OF THE PROPELLER, GOVERNOR, AND FUEL SELECTOR DISCLOSED NO ABNORMAL FINDINGS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DAMAGES SUSTAINED FROM IMPACT AND POST CRASH FIRE. THE ENGINE WAS IN OPERABLE CONDITION AND PRODUCED POWER, THOUGH THE NUMBER FOUR CYLINDER FUEL NOZZLE EXHIBITED RESTRICTED FLOW.  THE ENGINE MAINTENANCE RECORD DISCLOSED WORK PERFORMED CONFINED TO THE NUMBER FOUR CYLINDR ASSEMBLY FOR LOW COMPRESSION.  NEVERTHELESS, THE DIMINISHED ENGINE PERFORMANCE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE LOW COMPRESSION MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT BUT IT WAS NOT SUFFICIENT IN CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO CRASH.  NO FURTHER ACTION IS INTENDED BY THIS OFFICE AND THIS INVESTIGATION IS CONSIDERED CLOSED.  NTSB FACTUAL DATA TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ORDER 8020.11A, WHEN RECEIVED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC98FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98FA009), Oct 11, 1997: Piper PA-28R-180 (N3981T), Morganville, NJ, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The inadequate maintenance by the flying club and maintenance facility, which resulted in a takeoff with a partially blocked fuel injector nozzle and the failure of the landing gear to retract after…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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