Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Hammonton, New Jersey, November 21, 2009
On November 21, 2009 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N909CW, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Hammonton, New Jersey (Hammonton Municipal 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
A total loss of engine power due to a blocked fuel vent.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 21, 2009 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hammonton, New Jersey · Hammonton Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N909CW · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7335071
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he departed with the fuel selector in the left tank position. After takeoff, the pilot retracted the landing gear, turned left, and climbed the airplane to an altitude of 425 feet, at which point the engine stopped producing power. The pilot switched the fuel selector to the other fuel tank, but the engine failed to respond and he performed a forced landing to a field. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the fuel injector filter screen was completely occluded by metal particles. The metal particles extracted from the screen were most likely worn impeller vanes of an electric fuel boost pump, which was removed from the airplane two days prior to the accident. Disassembly of the pump installed on the airplane revealed no anomalies or abnormal wear. It was noted that the fuel vent on the left fuel tank was blocked and once cleared, fuel could flow to the gascolator.
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 initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel filter › strainer › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,914 hours in all; 2,274 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 2,914 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 15, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,115 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 9, 2009; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gkw CORP
The flight
- Departed from: N81 Hammonton NJ at 8:15 pm
- Destination: N81 Hammonton NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 3,601 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from ACY, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.