Piper PA-28-140 accident near Avondale, Pennsylvania, April 16, 2006
On April 16, 2006 at about 5:18 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N15507, was destroyed in an accident near Avondale, Pennsylvania (New Garden Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Separation of the propeller blade due to fatigue.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 2006 · about 5:18 pm local time
- Place
- Avondale, Pennsylvania · New Garden Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N15507 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7325083
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the initial climb, about 1,500 feet, there was a loud metallic-sounding explosion; oil sprayed onto the windscreen, the engine cowling opened, and a section of the propeller departed the airplane. The pilot maneuvered the airplane toward an open area bordered by trees, but the airplane struck the trees, burst into flames, and then collided with terrain. Examination of the propeller revealed that a large portion of the fracture surface displayed crack arrest positions typical of fatigue cracking. The fracture features emanated from an origin area on the camber (forward) surface of the propeller. Microscopic examination revealed an area of corrosion around the fatigue origin, as well as sanding scratches and conversion (Alodine) coating. Examination of maintenance records revealed repairs to the face of the propeller blades, as well as "repitching" of the propeller blades following the overhaul and conversion of the engine.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 160 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,765 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: N57 Avondale PA at 5:18 pm
- Destination: N57
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from ILG, 12 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.