Piper PA-28-180 accident near Lincoln Park, New Jersey, May 23, 2021
On May 23, 2021 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 1973 Piper PA-28-180, registered N16528, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Lincoln Park, New Jersey (Lincoln Park 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 pilot's loss of directional control during an aborted landing in crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 2021 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lincoln Park, New Jersey · Lincoln Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180, built 1973 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N16528 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7305275
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting to make his final approach and landing after the preceding three successful landings in gusty crosswind conditions. The pilot described that during touchdown, the airplane bounced once and became airborne when it was struck by a strong gust of wind. The pilot aborted the landing by adding full power, retracting one notch of flaps, and attempted to re-center the airplane on the runway. The airplane then departed the runway surface and impacted the trees bordering the left side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot report that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,167 hours in all; 775 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,043 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 9, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 171 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01/1, 2,942 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from CDW, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCDW 232253Z 34008G14KT 300V010 10SM BKN100 30/16 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP127 T03000161=
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 August 26, 2021. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Video File | MOV file | Download |
| 4 | Photo Array_accident Site and Damage | PDF, 4 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.