# NTSB NYC04LA176: Piper PA-28-140, N6139J, Somerville, NJ, July 24, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 24, 2004, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Somerville, NJ - Coordinates: 40.6175, -74.666946 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6175&lon=-74.6669&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-05 - NTSB case key (mKey): 59721 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59721/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA176 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in an attempted takeoff with contaminated fuel, and a subsequent forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - contamination,water - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) ## Analysis As the airplane began an initial climb from the runway, the engine began to sputter. The airplane then struck a tree and impacted a field during a forced landing. During an examination of the wreckage, approximately 5 ounces of fluid were recovered from the carburetor bowl. About one-third of the fluid was consistent with water, and the remaining fluid was consistent with 100 LL aviation gasoline. Several droplets of fluid were also recovered from the fuel strainer. Some of the droplets were consistent with water. The airplane was last fueled two days prior to the accident, and remained parked outside until the accident flight. During that time, the airport experienced periods of heavy rainfall. ## Factual narrative On July 24, 2004, about 1500 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6139J, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a loss of engine power after takeoff from Somerset Airport (SMQ), Somerville, New Jersey. The certificated flight instructor and student pilot were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight instructor reported that due to her injuries, she did not have any recollection of the day that the accident occurred. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the flight instructor was providing an introductory flight to a prospective student. As the airplane began an initial climb from runway 12, a witness at the airport heard the engine sputter. The airplane then began to descend and turn right, away from a wooded area at the departure end of the runway. However, the left wing struck a tree, and the airplane came to rest upright in an adjacent field. The wreckage was examined by a representative from the engine manufacturer, under the supervision of the FAA inspector. During the examination, approximately 5 ounces of fluid were recovered from the carburetor bowl. About one-third of the fluid was consistent with water, and the remaining fluid was consistent with 100 LL aviation gasoline. Several droplets of fluid were also recovered from the fuel strainer. Some of the droplets were consistent with water. The FAA inspector further stated that the airplane was last fueled two days prior to the accident, and remained parked outside until the accident flight. During that time, the airport experienced periods of heavy rainfall. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6139J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6139J-2013-04-26), registration cancelled 2013-04-26, S/N 28-7625222, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7625222 - Airframe hours: 18674 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Somerset Air Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 8, 2004, 30 hours before - Departed: SMQ, Somerville, NJ - Destination: SMQ - Airport: SMQ, Somerset Airport, runway 12, 2,733 × 65 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 28; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 21, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 1,610 total, 450 in this make and model, 1,040 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft overcast - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: SMQ ## 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 20040724026769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040724026769A), Jul 24, 2004: Piper PA28140, Bedminster, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft departed runway 12. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft engine began sputtering and experienced a loss of power. The pilot made a turn to… ## Other investigations on N6139J (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 NYC85LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85LA180), Jul 18, 1985: Piper PA-28-140 (N6139J), Bedminster, NJ, substantial damage 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.