Piper PA-28-151 accident near Annville, Pennsylvania, March 25, 1982
On March 25, 1982 at about 11:43 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N6909J, was destroyed in an accident near Annville, Pennsylvania (Millard airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 25, 1982 · about 11:43 pm local time
- Place
- Annville, Pennsylvania · Millard · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N6909J · no longer on the register · serial 287K615594
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT ABOUT 150 FT AGL. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED WHEN HE SWITCHED FROM THE LEFT TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK, BUT STOPPED AGAIN. HE ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, BUT WAS UNABLE. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER DURING LANDING ON SOFT TERRAIN ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. THE LEFT WING, FUEL TANK VENT WAS BLOCKED; HOWEVER, THE SAFETY HOLE ABOVE AND BEHIND THE VENT WAS OPEN. ALSO, BOTH FUEL TANK CAP VENTS WERE FUNCTIONAL. AN OPERATIONAL CHECK OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT FAILURE, EXCEPT IT WAS NOTED THAT THE NO. 3 BOTTOM SPARK PLUG LEAD WAS SHORTED AT A CUT NEAR THE PLUG TERMINAL.
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: 482 hours in all; 482 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 405 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Decarlos Rest.,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: N76 Annville PA at 6:40 pm
- Destination: N76 Annville PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 127°F (53°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.