Piper PA-24-260 accident near Robbinsville, New Jersey, June 6, 2021
On June 6, 2021 at about 9:01 pm local time, a 1966 Piper PA-24-260, registered N79RG, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Robbinsville, New Jersey (Trenton-Robbinsville Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s mismanagement of fuel, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2021 · about 9:01 pm local time
- Place
- Robbinsville, New Jersey · Trenton-Robbinsville Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-260, built 1966 · all PA-24-260s on the register
- Registration
- N79RG · registry record · serial 24-4399
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the engine began to sputter. He performed a 180° turn back to the runway, bounced due to excessive speed and attempted a go-around, during which the engine briefly regained power before all power was lost. During a forced landing to a road adjacent to the airport, the left wing impacted powerlines, resulting in substantial damage to the wing. A post-accident examination revealed that the auxiliary fuel tanks were full, both main fuel tanks were empty and the fuel selector was positioned at the “Right Main” position. In an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector, the student pilot/owner said that there were no mechanical deficiencies with his airplane and that he had only operated the airplane with the fuel selector on ‘Left’ or ‘Right’ Main fuel tank. Additionally, he had not received the required endorsements for solo operation of the airplane.
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 (total) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 75.8 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,634 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 16, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO540-D4A5 (piston); 5,649 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,275 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from TTN, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KTTN 062053Z 19011KT 10SM FEW075 32/18 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP151 T03220178 56011
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on April 28, 2022. 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's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot FAA II | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Instructor FAA | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Police Report | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Annual Inspection | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo Array | 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.