Cessna 172N accident near Linden, New Jersey, July 2, 2003
On July 2, 2003 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N314TM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Linden, New Jersey (Linden Airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The mechanic's improper installation of the carburetor, and his failure to secure the mixture control wire to the mixture control arm pivot bolt.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2003 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Linden, New Jersey · Linden Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N314TM · no longer on the register · serial 17270052
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the flight was to ferry the airplane to a maintenance facility to have the carburetor examined. During the takeoff climb, about 300 feet above the ground, the engine began to "run rough" for about 10 seconds, then lost total power. The pilot performed a forced landing to the only grass area in the vicinity, and during the landing, the airplane impacted a gas pipeline. Examination of the engine revealed that the mixture control wire was not secured to the mixture control arm pivot bolt. A review of the maintenance records revealed the carburetor was replaced five days prior to the accident, with the entry stating, "..set idle speed and mixture to specs."
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: 2,200 hours in all; 1,600 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 2,100 as pilot in command; 600 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 3, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,080 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 2002; 197 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LDJ Linden NJ at 4:15 pm
- Destination: 39N Princeton NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,137 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 pm from EWR, 6 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.