Piper PA-28-161 accident near Linden, New Jersey, September 20, 2025
On September 20, 2025 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 1977 Piper PA-28-161, registered N5914V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Linden, New Jersey (Linden airport). It was an instructional 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
An in-flight collision with a bird while on approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 2025 · about 11:30 pm local time · cases in 2025
- Place
- Linden, New Jersey · Linden · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161, built 1977 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N5914V · registry record · serial 28-7716214
- 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, during the landing flare, a large bird impacted the leading edge of the right wing, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing structure. The student pilot was able to land safely on the intended runway. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with 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
- Birdstrike during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,130 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 32.7 in the last 30 days; 775 as pilot in command; 61 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 20, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 14.5 hours in all; 14.5 in this make and model; 14.5 in the last 90 days; 7.8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,281.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,440 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming Engines O-320-D3G (piston); 3,282 hours total
- Operator: Luvsflying Flight Training LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 4,140 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from LDJ
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLDJ 210115Z AUTO 15003KT 10SM CLR 19/12 A3029 RMK AO2 T01870123
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – View of Right Wing Leading Edge
Photograph 2 – View of Right Wing Leading Edge
Photograph 3 – View of Right Wing Leading EdgeThe 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on December 4, 2025. 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, 15 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5914V on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow 18,620 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,839 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming Engines O-320-D3G 133 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Linden Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in New Jersey 1,189 since 1982 · 135 in the last ten years
- New Jersey 3,017 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA25LA360.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.