# NTSB ERA09CA086: Piper PA-28-161, N2125J, Linden, NJ, December 6, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 5, 2008, 21:17 local (Dec 6, 2008, 02:17 UTC) - Place: Linden, NJ - Coordinates: 40.617221, -74.244445 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6172&lon=-74.2444&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 6, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 69558 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69558/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA086 ## Probable cause The unknown pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the taxiway sign. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a routine airport inspection, airport personnel found one of the taxiway signs damaged. Further inspection of parked airplanes revealed structural damage to the wing of a Piper PA-28-161 consistent with a collision with the sign. Local police performed an investigation; however the identity of the pilot was not determined. The actual time and date of the accident is unknown. The owner of the airplane did not report the accident and did not respond to requests for accident information from the National Transportation Safety Board or the Federal Aviation Administration. ## Factual narrative During a routine airport inspection, airport personnel found one of the taxiway signs damaged. Further inspection of parked airplanes revealed structural damage to the wing of a Piper PA-28-161 consistent with a collision with the sign. Local police performed an investigation; however, the identity of the pilot was not determined. The actual time and date of the accident is unknown. The owner of the airplane did not report the accident and did not respond to requests for accident information from the National Transportation Safety Board or the Federal Aviation Administration. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2125J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2125J-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 28-7916202, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7916202 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mka International Inc - Registered owner: Mka International Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: LDJ, Linden, NJ - Destination: LDJ, Linden, NJ - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: LDJ, Linden Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; flight hours: 1 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20081206856179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081206856179A), Dec 6, 2008: Piper PA28161, Linden, NJ, Substantial damage. N21253, a PA28, was found on the ramp with substantial damages on December 5, 2008 while airport authorities were conducting a ramp check. Airport authorities… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.