Piper PA-28-140 accident near New London, North Carolina, July 24, 2023
On July 24, 2023 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1969 Piper PA-28-140, registered N98134, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near New London, North Carolina (Stanly County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power due to the No. 4 cylinder’s stuck exhaust valve.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2023 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- New London, North Carolina · Stanly County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140, built 1969 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N98134 · registry record · serial 28-26064
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot and flight instructor reported that the engine lost partial power after takeoff, when the airplane was climbing. The instructor assumed control of the airplane, attempted to restore power, and performed a forced landing. The airplane contacted trees and a powerline during the landing. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the exhaust valve in the No. 4 cylinder was stuck in the open position. Based on this finding, it is likely that the partial loss of engine power was the result of the No. 4 cylinder’s stuck exhaust valve.
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 enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Damaged/degraded
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 672 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 232 in the last 90 days; 83 in the last 30 days; 615 as pilot in command; 368 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 38 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 3,039 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VUJ Albemarle NC at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4R/2, 5,499 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 4:25 pm from VUJ
Weather report (METAR): METAR KVUJ 242025Z AUTO 25004KT 10SM SCT037 31/21 A3012 RMK AO2 T03080205=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on September 18, 2024. 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 and Statement | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Examination Report | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Logbooks Excerpt_engine | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Logbook Excerpt_airframe | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Wreckage Release | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA23LA310.