Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Wappinger, New York, November 22, 2009
On November 22, 2009 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N345AT, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Wappinger, New York (Dutchess County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to a delamination of the No. 3 connecting rod bearing. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate maintenance inspection of the engine oil system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 2009 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wappinger, New York · Dutchess County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N345AT · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7435303
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 10 minutes after takeoff, the pilot advised air traffic control that he was experiencing an oil problem and subsequently maneuvered the airplane for an emergency landing at an airport about 7 nautical miles away. The engine ceased producing power shortly thereafter and the airplane subsequently impacted trees and terrain during a forced landing. Metallurgical examination of the engine components attributed the loss of engine power to the failure of the No. 3 connecting rod bearing. Measurement of journal diameters were consistent with the correct bearings having been installed and a lack of substantial debris in the No. 4 bearing suggested that oil contamination was not contributory. The deformation and color of the recovered No. 3 connecting rod bearing pieces were consistent with the backing of the bearing extruding out of the connecting rod journal interface while under lubrication, and was consistent with failure due to delamination of the bearing. Damage to the bearing from continued operation after it failed prevented a conclusive determination as to whether the bearing had been damaged by a brief period of reduced oil pressure or wear over time. The engine was overhauled about 18 years and 1,700 flight hours prior to the accident. Maintenance records for that period showed inconsistent documentation of manufacturer-recommended oil filter element inspections following engine oil changes, with no documented oil suction screen or filter inspections in the 4 years preceding the accident.
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 (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Damaged/degraded
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Incorrect service/maintenance
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Owner/builder
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,662 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2009; 11 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming I0360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ayalon Flight Services INC
The flight
- Departed from: MGJ Montgomery NY at 6:13 pm
- Destination: DXR Danbury CT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Observation at 6:53 pm from POU, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N345AT 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.