Piper PA-28-140 accident near Lakewood, New Jersey, June 29, 2012
On June 29, 2012 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N449FL, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Lakewood, New Jersey (Lakewood Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power during climb for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination of the engine and engine systems or during postaccident operational testing of the engine.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2012 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Lakewood, New Jersey · Lakewood Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N449FL · no longer on the register · serial 28-7125241
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the first two takeoffs were normal. However, during the initial climb after the third takeoff, the pilot observed a loss of engine performance and the airplane would not maintain the proper climb speed. Unable to continue the climb, the pilot set up for a forced landing beyond the departure end of the runway. After touchdown, the airplane struck trees and a fence, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed lower than normal compression on the number 2 cylinder when the engine was cold; however, compression on all cylinders was normal after the engine was allowed to warm up. The engine was test run and no anomalies were noted.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 31,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 30,000 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 12, 2012; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N12 Lakewood NJ at 8:30 pm
- Destination: N12 Lakewood NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,912 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.68 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from BLM, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.