Piper PA-28-151 accident near Perkasie, Pennsylvania, July 25, 2015
On July 25, 2015 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1974 Piper PA-28-151, registered N777EX, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Perkasie, Pennsylvania (Pennridge 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 pilot's failure to use the mixture control to override a throttle anomaly and reduce engine power, which resulted in excessive airspeed upon landing and a subsequent runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inability to reduce the engine power via the throttle control for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident examination and test run of the engine revealed no anomalies.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 2015 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Perkasie, Pennsylvania · Pennridge Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151, built 1974 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N777EX · registry record · serial 28-7515039
- 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, while on approach to land after a short cross-country flight, he was unable to adequately slow the airplane because he could not reduce the engine power below 2,000 rpm by manipulating the throttle control. The pilot unsuccessfully attempted to land the airplane five times and conducted a go-around after each attempt. During the sixth attempted landing, the airplane touched down, but the pilot was unable to stop the airplane, and it overran the runway. When asked why he did not reduce the mixture control to slow the airplane, the pilot reported that he was concerned that the engine would lose all power. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the throttle linkage and carburetor were intact, and no anomalies were noted. During a subsequent engine test run, the engine started on the first attempt and ran continuously. The engine was run to 2,000 rpm, and a successful magneto check was performed. The engine was then run to full power (2,300 rpm), followed by a power reduction to idle without any anomalies 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
- Miscellaneous/other during approach
- Landing area overshoot during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 817 hours in all; 717 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 817 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 20, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,868 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 21, 2015; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,265 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VAY Mount Holly NJ at 3:45 pm
- Destination: DYL Doylestown PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 4,211 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from DYL, 10 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.