Piper PA-28-140 accident near Marlboro, New Jersey, June 25, 1984
On June 25, 1984 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N40921, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marlboro, New Jersey (Marlboro airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- June 25, 1984 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Marlboro, New Jersey · Marlboro
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N40921 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7425188
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, PLT NOTED A LOSS OF CLIMB PERFORMANCE, EXECUTED STEEP 180 DEGREE TURN TO AVOID HIGH VOLTAGE LINES ON RISING TERRAIN AHEAD. THIS MANEUVER, COUPLED WITH REDUCED POWER RESULTED IN AN AIRSPEED DECREASE TO NEAR STALL SPEED. PLT LOWERED THE NOSE TO PREVENT STALL, COLLIDED WITH TREE TOPS AND LOST FLYING SPEED. PLT MANAGED TO KEEP ACFT UPRIGHT DURING ENSUING MUSH INTO OPEN FIELD BUT GEAR COLLAPSED ON TOUCHDOWN DUE TO HIGH DESCENT RATE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED INNER FLAME TUBE IN MUFFLER HAD DISLODGED, PARTIALLY BLOCKING EXHAUST OUTLET AND RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE ENGINE BACK PRESSURE.
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: 363 hours in all; 301 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 269 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,835 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1983; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Marlboro NJ at 10:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,170 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm
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.