Piper PA-28-180 accident near Berlin, New Jersey, November 23, 1988
On November 23, 1988 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N4341T, was destroyed in an accident near Berlin, New Jersey (Camden CO. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOLLOWING A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION IN THE SELECTED TANK WITH USEABLE FUEL IN THE OTHER TANK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 23, 1988 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Berlin, New Jersey · Camden CO.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N4341T · registry record · serial 28-7105214
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER AFTER TAKEOFF AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. HE STRUCK POWER LINES ON SHORT FINAL AND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, STRIKING A RAILROAD EMBANKMENT. A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WHO WAS ON SCENE APPROXIMATELY A MINUTE AFTER THE ACCIDENT SAID THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON AN EMPTY TANK AND USEABLE FUEL WAS IN THE OTHER TANK.
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: 280 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 220 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,544 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Diamond Carpet Marketers, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 19N Berlin NJ at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 3,100 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.