Piper PA-28-180 accident near Montgomery, New York, May 5, 2003
On May 5, 2003 at about 3:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N55854, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montgomery, New York (Orange County Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate 100-hour inspection by maintenance personnel, which resulted in a loose fuel line and loss of power. A factor related to the accident was the dark night conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 2003 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Montgomery, New York · Orange County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N55854 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7305485
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the nighttime departure, the airplane accelerated normally, with the engine producing full power during the takeoff roll and initial climb. Upon reaching approximately 300 to 400 feet above the ground, the engine began to lose power. The CFI took the flight controls and performed a forced landing. During the landing rollout, the airplane rolled through a shallow drainage swale, collapsing the nose and right main gear assemblies. The airplane rotated to the right and came to rest upright. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel line, which ran between the fuel pump and the carburetor, was loose at the connection point on the carburetor. When the electric fuel pump was activated, fuel was observed spraying from the connection point. The airplane had accumulated about 20 hours of operation since a 100-hour inspection was performed 10 days prior to the accident. According to 14 CFR Part 43 Appendix D - Scope and Detail of Items (as Applicable to the Particular Aircraft) To Be Included in Annual and 100 Hour Inspections, "Each person performing an annual or 100 hour inspection shall inspect (where applicable) components of the engine and nacelle group..."
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 607 hours in all; 468 in this make and model; 77 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 545 as pilot in command; 2 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 28, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 34 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,603 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 25, 2003; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MGJ Montgomery NY at 3:00 am
- Destination: SWF Newburgh NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 5,006 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 am from MGJ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N55854 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.