Piper PA-28-180 accident near Avondale, Pennsylvania, September 29, 2004
On September 29, 2004 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N54397, was substantially damaged in an accident near Avondale, Pennsylvania (New Garden Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection that resulted in fuel contamination and a subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 2004 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Avondale, Pennsylvania · New Garden Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N54397 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7405050
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After departing the airport, as the airplane initiated a climb to about 200 feet, the engine began to sputter. The airplane then turned to the right, while maintaining a climb attitude, and the engine subsequently lost total power. The airplane stalled and descended towards the ground out of control, impacting a wooded area. The airplane came to rest about 1/2 mile west of the runway, approximately abeam the departure end. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the gascolator bowl, engine driven fuel pump, and carburetor bowl, were contaminated with water. Additional examination of the engine and its related components did not reveal any anomalies. According to a local fire fighter, the airport had received about 8-10 inches of rain during the proceeding 2 days prior to the accident.
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
Crew member
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 604 hours in all
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,642 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2004; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N57 Toughkenamon PA at 5:58 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from ILG, 13 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.