Piper PA-28-161 accident near Lakewood, New Jersey, October 24, 2002
On October 24, 2002 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N40059, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakewood, New Jersey (Lakewood Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper use of carburetor heat which resulted in a failure to remove carburetor ice, and loss of engine power. A factor was the carburetor icing conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 2002 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Lakewood, New Jersey · Lakewood Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N40059 · no longer on the register · serial 28.7816008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot finished a dual instruction and then received permission from his flight instructor to make a solo flight. The flight instructor reported that he told the student pilot to remain within 5 miles of the departure airport. The student pilot strayed further and at one point, when the flight instructor established radio contact with him, the student pilot reported that he did not know where he was. While descending from 3,500 feet to 2,000 feet , about 7 miles south east of the airport, he added carburetor heat. The engine started to run rough, and he turned the carburetor heat off, after which the engine lost power. The student pilot performed an off airport landing. The student pilot subsequently reported that did not leave the carburetor heat on long enough to dissipate the accumulated ice.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 51 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 44 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,206 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 2002; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,440 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BLM Farmingdale NJ at 9:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,457 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.38 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from BLM, 8 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.