Piper PA-31P accident near Newton, Kansas, August 28, 2007
On August 28, 2007 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-31P, registered N7325L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newton, Kansas (Newton City/County 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 failure of the exhaust gasket on the number 6 cylinder for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 2007 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Newton, Kansas · Newton City/County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31P · all PA-31Ps on the register
- Registration
- N7325L · no longer on the register · serial 31P-7400206
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During initial takeoff climb, at an altitude of 300 feet agl, the right engine lost partial power. The pilot attempted to land back at the airport; however, he had to execute a forced landing in a field adjacent to the airport. Examination of the plane revealed the right wing forward and rear spars were bent upward. Examination of the right engine revealed the number 6 cylinder exhaust gasket was practically missing, the lower spark plug lead on the number 6 cylinder was damaged and separated from the spark plug, and the magneto P-lead was damaged, resulting in a partial loss of engine power. Review of the maintenance records revealed that the exhaust gaskets on the right engine, cylinders 2, 4, and 6, had been replaced approximately 4 hours prior to the accident. The reason for the failure of the exhaust gasket was not determined.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 6,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,062.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2007; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,800 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TIGO-541-E1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming TIGO-541-E1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EWK Newton KS at 6:00 pm
- Destination: M65 Wynne Municipal AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 16 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from EWK, 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.
Other NTSB records under N7325L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.