Summary
On March 27, 2003, a Piper PA-28RT-201 (N8098Q) was involved in an accident near Berlin, NJ. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury, with 1 person uninjured out of 2 aboard. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which led to an unsecured cowling and loss of aircraft control. Factors were the pilot's diverted attention and the unsecured cowling.
On March 27, 2003, about 0745 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28RT-201, N8098Q, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing after takeoff from Camden County Airport (19N), Berlin, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot was not injured, and the passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned flight to Lancaster Airport, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated that prior to the accident flight, he performed maintenance on the airplane's engine, with the cowling open. The pilot believed that after the maintenance, he did not properly secure the left side of the cowling.
This accident is documented in NTSB report NYC03LA072. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N8098Q.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which led to an unsecured cowling and loss of aircraft control. Factors were the pilot's diverted attention and the unsecured cowling.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On March 27, 2003, about 0745 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28RT-201, N8098Q, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing after takeoff from Camden County Airport (19N), Berlin, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot was not injured, and the passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned flight to Lancaster Airport, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated that prior to the accident flight, he performed maintenance on the airplane's engine, with the cowling open. The pilot believed that after the maintenance, he did not properly secure the left side of the cowling. He subsequently departed on runway 23, a 3,102-foot long, 45-foot wide, asphalt runway. About 300 feet above the ground, the left-side cowling unlatched and repeatedly struck the windshield. The pilot then made a left turn back toward the airport in an attempt to land on runway 5. However, the airplane landed hard on a grass area between runway 5 and the taxiway. During the landing, the landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid to a stop.
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that both main landing gear had sheared off the airplane, and the nose gear collapsed. Additionally, both wings and the fuselage were compressed.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC03LA072