Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Berlin, New Jersey, February 22, 1994
On February 22, 1994 at about 12:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N23AL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Berlin, New Jersey (Berlin/Camden County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot not maintaining clearance from obstacles (trees) during final approach which resulted in a collision with a tree and a subsequent uncontrolled descent until colliding with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 22, 1994 · about 12:35 pm local time
- Place
- Berlin, New Jersey · Berlin/Camden County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N23AL · registry record · serial 7780448
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
When the pilot arrived at his destination airport, he circled the airport to inspect the wind sock and runway conditions. The wind sock indicated near calm winds, but appeared to favor runway 05. The pilot said that because the runway is relatively short, he elected to approach and land in such a manner as to have as much runway left as possible. The pilot set up his approach for the runway and on final approach, the airplane's left main landing gear contacted a tree. The airplane veered to the left of the runway and contacted the ground. As the airplane was sliding to a stop, the left wing collided with a utility pole and was severed.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,071 hours in all; 481 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 955 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,062 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 22, 1993; 114 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO540K15D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ILG New Castle DE at 12:10 pm
- Destination: NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 5, 3,100 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.