Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Sandy Hook, New Jersey, July 25, 2001
On July 25, 2001 at about 1:30 am local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N4159V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sandy Hook, New Jersey (None 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
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 2001 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Sandy Hook, New Jersey · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N4159V · no longer on the register · serial 3257117
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The fuel tanks were filled to capacity (102 gallons useable), and the pilot departed about 1915. Prior to reaching his first intended airport, the pilot switched from the right fuel tank to the left fuel tank. He then performed one practice instrument approach, and flew toward the second intended airport. About 2 hours 5 minutes into the flight, at 4,500 feet over the Atlantic Ocean, the engine lost all power. The pilot turned toward the nearest airport, transmitted an emergency distress message on 121.5 Mhz, and tried an engine restart using the emergency procedures. The pilot was unable to restart the engine, and he ditched in the Atlantic Ocean. Due to the depth of water, the wreckage was not recovered. The pilot reported that there was no sputtering or roughness with the engine prior to the total loss of engine power. He further stated that he had plenty of fuel on board, and usually burned 17-18 gallons-per-hour in cruise flight at 4,500 feet msl.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 490 hours in all; 206 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 395 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 14, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 251 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 7, 2000; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CDW Caldwell NJ at 11:30 pm
- Destination: MJX Toms River NJ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 am from JFK, 38 miles away
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.