Piper PA-28-140 accident near Allentown, Pennsylvania, September 28, 2022
On September 28, 2022 at about 5:40 pm local time, a 1968 Piper PA-28-140, registered N7329F, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Allentown, Pennsylvania (Allentown Queen City Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial 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
- September 28, 2022 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Allentown, Pennsylvania · Allentown Queen City Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140, built 1968 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N7329F · registry record · serial 28-25237
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
**This report was modified on February 26, 2025. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.** The flight instructor reported that the airplane was not performing as expected during the takeoff and initial climb. He took control of the airplane from his student and was able to clear trees off the departure end of the runway, but the airplane would not continue climbing and the engine was “noticeably weak.” He maneuvered the airplane, maintaining the best angle of climb airspeed (VX), and was unable to find a suitable landing area. The airplane impacted trees and the ground and a postimpact fire ensued. Postaccident examination of the airplane and its engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies; however, the extensive fire damage precluded functional testing and examination of several airframe and engine components. Recorded flight data indicated that the airplane was below the published Vx airspeed, but above stall speed. The airspeed derived from the data used surface winds reported at the departure airport and the actual winds encountered by the airplane could not be determined. This discrepancy could account for the difference in the derived speed and the speed the pilot reported. Operation of the airplane below VX could have reduced the airplane’s climb rate but any deficit to climb performance could not be quantified. The recorded temperature and dewpoint at the time of the accident was conducive to the development of serious icing at glide power and was between the range for icing at glide and cruise power and serious icing at cruise power.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,350 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command; 1,150 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 1, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 51 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,031.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 1,707 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Proflite Aero LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07/2, 3,950 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from KXLL, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KXLL 281735Z AUTO 31008KT 10SM BKN042 BKN050 18/10 A3015 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
17 documents, released by the NTSB on June 5, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
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.