Piper PA-28-140 accident near New Middleton, Ohio, January 11, 2003
On January 11, 2003 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N573PA, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Middleton, Ohio (New Middletown 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 jammed throttle control assembly for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 11, 2003 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- New Middleton, Ohio · New Middletown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N573PA · registry record · serial 28-7525328
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and commercial pilot were practicing flight maneuvers, which required full and idle power settings. At the completion of one of the reduced power maneuvers, when the commercial pilot tried to apply power, the throttle was "completely jammed" in the idle position. The flight instructor was unable to maintain altitude, and elected to land at a private airstrip. In preparation to land, the pilot extended the flaps to 40 degrees, and maintained an approach speed of approximately 80 mph. Prior to reaching the end of the runway, the airplane encountered a high sink rate and collided with trees located about 50 feet from the end of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the throttle bracket was crushed from the impact, and the throttle linkage was kinked. The linkage was still intact at the carburetor. The carburetor was removed to help free the throttle linkage. Once removed, the throttle linkage moved freely, and fuel sprayed from the accelerator pump. No fretting or rubbing of the throttle linkage was noted. The throttle quadrant was removed and examined, and no discrepancies were noted.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,073 hours in all; 522 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 2,975 as pilot in command; 1,070 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 435 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 341 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 28, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,141 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 26, 2002; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UCP New Castle PA at 3:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from YNG, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.