Cessna 172P accident near Sussex, New Jersey, July 22, 2007
On July 22, 2007 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N63483, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sussex, New Jersey (Blairstown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2007 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Sussex, New Jersey · Blairstown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N63483 · registry record · serial 17275438
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
At 4,000 feet above ground level, the engine began to sputter, and power decreased to 500 rpm. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in an open field, but the airplane collided with trees. Inspection of the carburetor revealed the carburetor float was stuck in the down position and the needle valve was in the full open position. A review of the logbooks revealed that on June 12, 2007 an overhauled carburetor was installed on the engine, and the idle speed and mixture settings were set. The float assembly was disassembled in order to free the needle valve. The carburetor was reassembled, and it appeared to function normally. The engine was test run and no anomalies were noted.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 392 hours in all; 6 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,723 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2007; 102 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1N7 Blairstown NJ at 1:00 pm
- Destination: FWN Sussex NJ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KFWN, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.