Piper PA-28RT-201 accident near Berlin, New Jersey, March 27, 2003
On March 27, 2003 at about 12:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201, registered N8098Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Berlin, New Jersey (Camden County Airport). It was a personal 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
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which led to an unsecured cowling and loss of aircraft control. Factors were the pilot's diverted attention and the unsecured cowling.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2003 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Berlin, New Jersey · Camden County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201 · all PA-28RT-201s on the register
- Registration
- N8098Q · no longer on the register · serial 28R-8018001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to the accident flight, the pilot performed maintenance on the airplane's engine, with the cowling open. The pilot believed that after the maintenance, he did not properly secure the left side of the cowling. After takeoff on runway 23, about 300 feet above the ground, the left-side cowling unlatched and repeatedly struck the windshield. The pilot then made a left turn back towards the airport in an attempt to land on runway 05; however, the airplane landed hard on a grass area between runway 5 and a taxiway. Subsequently, the landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid to a stop.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,488 hours in all; 32 in the last 90 days; 4,556 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 12, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2002; 2,000 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 19N Berlin NJ at 12:40 pm
- Destination: LNS Lancaster PA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 23, 3,102 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 12:54 pm from PHL, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.