Piper PA-28-140 accident near Sussex, New Jersey, August 11, 1986
On August 11, 1986 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N5803U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sussex, New Jersey (Sussex airport). 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
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
- August 11, 1986 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Sussex, New Jersey · Sussex
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N5803U · no longer on the register · serial 28-26630
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIPER PA-28-140 HAD JUST TAKEN OFF WHEN THE MAIN CABIN DOOR UNLOCKED AT THE TOP. THE PILOT RETURNED FOR A LANDING, HAD TO GO-AROUND DUE TO TRAFFIC, AND WAS ON FINAL FOR HIS SECOND APPROACH, WITH THE TOP OF THE MAIN CABIN DOOR STILL UNLOCKED. WHEN, PASSING A HILL THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO SINK AND FULL POWER WOULD NOT STOP THE DESCENT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TELEPHONE LINES AND A POLE SHEARING OFF THE RIGHT WING PRIOR TO HITTING THE GROUND. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES WHILE THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE AIRCRAFT PROPELLER TIPS WERE BENT FORWARD AND THE LEADING EDGE OF THE PROPELLER HAD SEVERE LEADING EDGE DAMAGE AND CHORDWISE SCRAPES. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AND NO DEFECTS OR MALFUNCTION COULD BE FOUND.
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: 202 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 131 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,239 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 3, 1986; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,510 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.