Piper PA-28RT-201 N8098Q

Summary

On 27 March 2003 at about 12:45 local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201 registered N8098Q was involved in an accident near Berlin, New Jersey, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 March 2003 at 12:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Berlin, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Camden County Airport (19N)

Coordinates

39.7783, -74.9478

Aircraft

Piper PA-28RT-201

Registration

N8098Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Berlin → Lancaster

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC03LA072

1 person had minor injuries.

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to the accident flight, the pilot 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. After takeoff on runway 23, about 300 feet above the ground, the left-side cowling unlatched and repeatedly struck the windshield. The pilot then made a left turn back towards the airport in an attempt to land on runway 05; however, the airplane landed hard on a grass area between runway 5 and a taxiway. Subsequently, the landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid to a stop.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.