Piper PA28 accident near New Market, Virginia, October 25, 2018
On October 25, 2018 at about 1:15 pm local time, a 1977 Piper PA28, registered N68DW, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near New Market, Virginia. 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 loss of engine power on takeoff due to restricted air flow to the engine.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 2018 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- New Market, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 181, built 1977 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N68DW · registry record · serial 28-7890006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot stated that, shortly after takeoff for the cross-country, personal flight, the engine suddenly lost partial power. Subsequently, he made a forced landing to a corn field, during which the left main landing gear penetrated the left wing and separated from the airplane, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the firewall and engine mount sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The carburetor exhibited no external damage; however, when the air box and alternate air control were removed, a dead mouse fell out of the intake manifold.
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 landing
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing
- Landing gear collapse during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › Air intake › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 470 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 410 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 30, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,100.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 15, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8W2 New Market VA at 12:50 pm
- Destination: LUA Luray VA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 1:35 pm from FRR, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on October 28, 2019. 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 | NTSB Summary of Record - FAA Exam of Engine | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | 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.