Piper PA-28-181 accident near Somerville, New Jersey, September 4, 2024
On September 4, 2024 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 2021 Piper PA-28-181, registered N512AF, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Somerville, New Jersey (Somerset airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to an undetermined fuel delivery issue.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 2024 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Somerville, New Jersey · Somerset · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181, built 2021 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N512AF · registry record · serial 28020043
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that they observed a group of deer on the runway while landing. They initiated a go-around; during the climb-out, the engine lost power. The instructor took over control of the airplane and maneuvered back toward the airport to land on a grass runway. Unable to maintain altitude, the airplane collided with trees. Maintenance records documented two previous reports that included low oil pressure, a rough-running engine at idle power, and momentary engine roughness in flight, which could not be replicated during maintenance troubleshooting. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed the fuel system was intact, with no contamination or obstructions, and the engine controls were found properly positioned and unrestricted. During a test run of the engine, an intermittent loss of power was observed when the electric fuel boost pump was off, suggesting a potential fuel delivery issue. A subsequent bench test of the engine-driven fuel pump revealed that it operated normally. A teardown examination of the engine’s fuel servo revealed that it exhibited evidence of fuel contamination, possibly related to a previous flooding condition, though the source of the contamination could not be precisely determined.
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
- Fuel starvation during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,228 hours in all; 1,147 in this make and model; 248 in the last 90 days; 76 in the last 30 days; 1,150 as pilot in command; 913 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 260 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 145 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 25, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,021 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 20, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MMU Morristown NJ at 7:00 pm
- Destination: MMU Morristown NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 1,923 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.38 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KSMQ, 48 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSMQ 042153Z AUTO 11004KT 10SM CLR 24/11 A3038 RMK AO2 SLP288 T02390111
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Airplane nose down resting inverted against a tree.
Photograph 2 – Buckled fuselage resting against a tree.
Photograph 3 – Right wing suspended in a tree above the airplane.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on September 8, 2026. 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, 22 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Engine Examination Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record - Follow-up Examination of Fuel Servo and Engine-driven Fuel Pump | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Logbook Record Excerpts | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | 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.
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.