Piper J-3 accident near Frenchtown, New Jersey, August 12, 2007
On August 12, 2007 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper J-3, registered N6429H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Frenchtown, New Jersey. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 2007 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Frenchtown, New Jersey · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-3 · all J-3s on the register
- Registration
- N6429H · no longer on the register · serial 19612
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot climbed the airplane to 1,400 feet above mean sea level. He turned left over a river, applied carburetor heat to the engine, and descended the airplane to approximately 500 feet above the water. He then secured the carburetor heat and opened the throttle, but there was no engine response. The engine "sounded o.k." but remained at idle power regardless of throttle position. The pilot checked that the fuel selector was on, and 300 to 400 feet above the river, turned the airplane toward a shoreline. The pilot attempted a forced landing to a field; however, prior to reaching it, the airplane descended into a tree. No examination of the airplane was performed at the accident scene, and a cursory examination by the owner at a later date yielded no preaccident mechanical anomalies. Ambient temperature and dew point values indicated a probability of serious carburetor icing at glide power.
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: 300 hours in all; 115 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 234 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,449 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,180 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9N1 Erwinna PA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: 9N1
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from DYL, 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.