# Accident 20000530010019A: Piper PA28161, Williamstown, NJ, May 30, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 30, 2000, 18:59 local time
- Place: Williamstown, NJ
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.7784° N, 74.9478° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at , within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7784&lon=-74.9478&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4319U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4319U-2000-11-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-161 (registry code 7102803, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28161
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC00LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA146) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000530010019A

## Narrative

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

(-23) SEE ATTACHED REPORT. ON MAY 30, 2000, ABOUT 18:59 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER CHEROKEE, PA-28-161, N4319U, ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD AND STRUCK TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION LINES FORCING THE AIRCRAFT TO WHIP 180 DEGREES AROUND AND MAKE ABRUPT CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE ACCIDENTSITE WAS LOCATED NEAR A RESIDENTIAL AREA IN MONROE TOWNSHIP, WILLIAMSTOWN, NJ. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY A PRIVATE PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND A POST ACCIDENT FIRE WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED BY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE PRIVATE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THERE WERE TWO PASSENGERS ON BOARD THAT WERE NOT INJURED. ALL OCCUPANTS WERE A BLE TO EVACUATE ON THEIR OWN. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM CAMDEN COUNTY AIRPORT (19N), BERLIN, NJ EN ROUTE TO BADER FIELD (AIY), ATLANTIC CITY, NJ. THE PILOT STATED THAT ABOUT 8 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 2000 FT. MSL, HE HAD NOTICED THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT FLICKER AND THEN REMAIN ILLUMINATED. HE IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A TURN BACK TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND LOSE POWER. HE COMPLETED HIS EMERGENCY CHECK LIST AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING IN THE FIRST OF TWO ALFALFA FIELDS, BUT OVER SHOT THE FIRST FIELD AND CAME INTO CONTACT WITH PHONE LINES JUST PRIOR TO REACHING THE SECOND FIELD. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE OIL QUICK DRAIN HAD PREMATURELY VIBRATED LOOSE, THUS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOOSE ALL OIL CONTENTS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED.

## 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 NYC00LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA146), May 30, 2000: Piper PA-28-161 (N4319U), Williamstown, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: improper installation of a quick drain plug by the airplane owner/mechanic which resulted in a loss of engine oil and forced landing.

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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