# NTSB NYC91LA044: Piper PA-28-161, N8339D, Atlantic City, NJ, December 7, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 6, 1990, 23:00 local (Dec 7, 1990, 04:00 UTC)
- Place: Atlantic City, NJ
- Location: 39.3773° N, 74.4511° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Atlantic City, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3773&lon=-74.4511&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36855
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91LA044
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36855/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91LA044

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO PREVENT AN OVERRUN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A PARTIAL POWER LOSS DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SYSTEM.

## 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 - roll/run
  - ignition system - failure,partial (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Overrun, takeoff - aborted
  - abort - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted
  - terrain condition - water (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF WITH TWO FRIENDS ON BOARD ON A 2830 FT LONG RUNWAY. THE ENGINE DID NOT DEVELOP FULL POWER (ONLY 1800 INSTEAD OF 2600 RPM). ABOUT MIDFIELD THE PILOT DROPPED A NOTCH OF FLAPS IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET AIRBORNE AND AT ABOUT 2/3 DOWN THE RUNWAY, HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, THROUGH A CYCLONE FENCE AND INTO THE BAY (3 FT DEEP). POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FOUND AN IGNITION PROBLEM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8339D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8339D), registered now, S/N 28-8316030, built 1982 (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: 28-8316030
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ervin Bender
- Registered owner: Ervin Bender
- Departed: AIY
- Destination: PNE, PHILADELPHIA, PA
- Airport: AIY, Bader Field, runway 29, 2,830 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,170 total, 1,170 in this make and model, 727 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19901206053159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901206053159A), Dec 6, 1990: Piper PA28161, Atlantic City, NJ, Substantial damage. Engine lacked full power on runup. On takeoff still lacked 800 RPM. Aborted too late ran off end into a bay.

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.

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