Piper PA 38-112 accident near West Milford, New Jersey, February 11, 2014
On February 11, 2014 at about 3:45 pm local time, a 1978 Piper PA 38-112, registered N381PT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near West Milford, New Jersey (Greenwood Lake Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 11, 2014 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- West Milford, New Jersey · Greenwood Lake Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 38-112, built 1978 · all PA 38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N381PT · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private rated pilot-in-command (PIC), who was seated in the right seat, stated that the wind on approach to runway 24 was from 280 degrees at 6 knots. At touchdown slightly left of centerline with the nose turned to the left, the airplane veered to the left which he was unable to correct. The airplane then skidded into a snowbank. The PIC and operator reported there was no preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction.
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 control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Snow/ice › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 160 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 55.9 in the last 90 days; 26.5 in the last 30 days; 101 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 24, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 96.5 hours in all; 29.6 in this make and model; 29.6 in the last 90 days; 29.6 in the last 30 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 16, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,181 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 20, 2014; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 8,743 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HFD Hartford CT at 2:44 pm
- Destination: 4N1 West Milford NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,471 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.36 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from FWN, 13 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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 21, 2014. 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.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Weather Report and Record | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 1. View of Skid Marks on Runway (Digital Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 2. View Depicting the Resting Location of Airplane (Digital Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.