Piper PA-28-140 accident near Belmar, New Jersey, July 23, 1993
On July 23, 1993 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N8431R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Belmar, New Jersey (Allaire airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING. OTHER RELATED FACTORS WERE THE CROSSWIND AND THE RAVINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1993 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Belmar, New Jersey · Allaire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N8431R · no longer on the register · serial 28-22310
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY, AN AIRPLANE APPEARED TO BE TAKING THE ACTIVE RUNWAY, SO HE RADIOED THE AIRPLANE AND CONFIRMED HIS POSITION. THE AIRPLANE ADVISED THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO TAKEOFF. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DECIDED TO LAND LONGER THAN PLANNED; DURING THE FLARE/TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE BALLOONED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ADDED SOME POWER AND AS HE PASSED THE BUILDINGS THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A RIGHT CROSSWIND, FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT WHEEL TOUCHING THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE THEN VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE AND HEADED TOWARD THE EXCAVATION FOR THE NEW RUNWAY. HE STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO BRING THE AIRPLANE BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY, BUT THE RIGHT WHEEL SLIPPED OFF THE EDGE AND THE AIRPLANE SLID DOWN THE RAVINE. HE REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION, AND THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THERE WAS ADEQUATE SHOULDER ALONG THIS RUNWAY AS THE EXCAVATION COMES WITHIN 8 FEET OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 105 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 72 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BLM at 6:15 pm
- Destination: BLM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,707 ft by 46 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from TEB, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.