# NTSB NYC05LA144: Piper PA-28-180, N6494J, Millville, NJ, September 20, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 20, 2005, 15:28 local (19:28 UTC) - Place: Millville, NJ - Coordinates: 39.367778, -75.072219 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3678&lon=-75.0722&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 May 30, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62501 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05LA144 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62501/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05LA144 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's improper in-flight decision to perform a emergency landing to a runway, with a tailwind, and his failure to maintain airspeed after aborting that landing, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with terrain. Factors in the accident were the partial loss of engine power due to a cracked cylinder, and tailwind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - engine assembly,cylinder - cracked (contributing factor) - Miscellaneous/other, emergency landing after takeoff - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis After takeoff from runway 28, at an altitude of 600 feet msl, the pilot initiated a right turn. During the turn, the engine began to "run rough," and the engine rpm decreased to between 1,800 - 2,000 rpm. The flight instructor told the pilot to return to the airport, and the pilot set up the airplane for a downwind landing on runway 10. When the airplane was halfway down the runway, the pilots decided to perform a go-around. They applied full power, and initiated a "slight" climbing right turn above trees at the departure end of runway 28, and then a left turn to return for landing on runway 28. During the turn, the aircraft "entered an accelerated stall," and the left main landing gear impacted the ground. The airplane continued across a grass area and struck a group of trees. Examination of the engine revealed the number 3 cylinder contained a crack from the spark plug hole to a point between the cylinder intake and exhaust valve. The most recent annual inspection was performed 2 months prior to the accident, during which no abnormalities were noted with the cylinders. At the time of the accident, the wind was from 250 degrees at 7 knots. The airport consisted of two runways; runway 10/28, which was 6,002 feet long by 150 feet wide, and runway 14/32 which was 5,057 feet long by 150 feet wide. ## Factual narrative On September 20, 2005, at 1528 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N6494J, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees during a go-around at the Millville Municipal Airport (MIV), Millville, New Jersey. The certificated flight instructor and the certificated private pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the flight. The instructional flight was destined for the Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), Atlantic City, New Jersey, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the flight instructor, after takeoff from runway 28 at MIV, and while at an altitude of 600 feet msl, the pilot initiated a right turn toward the Cedar Lake VOR. During the turn, the engine began to "run rough," and the engine rpm decreased to between 1,800 - 2,000 rpm. He instructed the pilot to return to MIV, at approximately 500 feet, and the pilot reduced power, applied flaps, and set up the airplane for a downwind landing on runway 10. During the landing, the airplane had not touched down, as it continued halfway down the runway. Because there was a jet aircraft waiting at the departure end of the runway, and workers with equipment at the runway intersections, the pilots elected to perform a go-around. They applied full power, and initiated a "slight" climbing right turn above trees at the departure end of runway 28, and then a left turn to return for landing on runway 28. During the turn, the airplane "entered an accelerated stall," and the left main landing gear impacted the ground. The airplane continued across a grass area and struck a group of trees. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the engine after the accident. According to the inspector, the number 3 cylinder contained a crack from the spark plug hole, to a point between the cylinder intake and exhaust valve. Examination of maintenance records for the airplane revealed the number 2 and number 3 cylinders were replaced with reconditioned cylinders on January 17, 2000. Since that date, the engine accumulated 1,287 hours of flight time. The most recent annual inspection was performed on July 12, 2005. The compression check values for the number 2 and number 3 cylinders were 72/80 psi and 74/80 psi, respectively. The average compression check values for all four cylinders over the previous 5 years was between 68/80 psi and 76/80 psi. The winds reported at MIV, at 1454, were from 250 degrees at 7 knots. The airport consisted of two runways; runway 10/28, which was 6,002 feet long by 150 feet wide, and runway 14/32 which was 5,057 feet long by 150 feet wide. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6494J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6494J), registered now, S/N 28-4925, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A4A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a4a) (registry code 42270, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-4925 - Airframe hours: 9390 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: George Loose - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2005, 20 hours before - Departed: MIV, Millville, NJ - Destination: ACY, Atlantic City, NJ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MIV, Millville Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 45; injuries: serious; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 4,159 total, 1,000 in this make and model - Pilot; age 63; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 625 total, 16 in this make and model, 542 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: MIV ## 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 20050920032329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050920032329A), Sep 20, 2005: Piper PA28180, Millville, NJ, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot reported engine trouble on takeoff, attempted to circle and return on runway 28. Struck the ground approximately 100 yards north of runway center… ## Other investigations on N6494J (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 CHI69D0394](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI69D0394), Nov 10, 1968: Piper PA-28 (N6494J), Wheeling, IL, 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.