Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Mount Holly, New Jersey, February 16, 2000
On February 16, 2000 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N4531F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mount Holly, New Jersey (South Jersey Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Engine failure due to the disconnection of the intake manifold from the #3 cylinder, as a result of improper maintenance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 16, 2000 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mount Holly, New Jersey · South Jersey Regional
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N4531F · registry record · serial 28R-7635415
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After departure, at an altitude of 350 feet above the ground, the engine experienced a total power loss, and the pilot performed an emergency landing in a field. Examination of the engine revealed that the #3 cylinder intake manifold tube was disconnected from the engine and lying in the cowling. The bottom portion of the tube appeared to be 'flattened.' The bolts and washers which connect the intake manifold tube to the cylinder were not found, as well as the 'o-ring' which connects the tube to the manifold. The inspector observed 'flakes,' or metal shavings, in the induction box of the intake manifold. The 'flakes' were consistent with the material of the intake manifold tube. The inspector reported the #3 exhaust manifold was broken at the muffler and appeared worn. The accident engine was installed on the accident airplane on September 20, 1999, at which time an annual inspection was also performed. No additional entries were made in either the airframe or the engine logbooks. At the time of the accident, the engine had flown 96 hours since major overhaul, and had accumulated 1,197 total flight hours.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 516 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 67 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,210 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 20, 1999; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7MY Mount Holly NJ at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,911 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from VAY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.