Piper PA-24-400 accident near Delmont, New Jersey, February 27, 1989
On February 27, 1989 at about 8:33 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-400, registered N8471P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delmont, New Jersey. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE #6 CONNECTING ROD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 27, 1989 · about 8:33 pm local time
- Place
- Delmont, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-400 · all PA-24-400s on the register
- Registration
- N8471P · no longer on the register · serial 26-46
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIPER PA-24-400 WAS CRUISING AT 2000 FT WHEN THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE ENGINE STARTED TO VIBRATE & IT LOST OIL PRESSURE. AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD & THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES. A POST-CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 6 CONNECTING ROD. IN ADDITION, THE PISTONS WERE FOUND TO BE LARGER THAN THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS. THE ENGINE HAD A TOTAL TIME OF 1400 HRS WITH 40.5 HRS SINCE OVERHAUL.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,338 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 2,149 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-720-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ILG Wilmington DE at 7:30 pm
- Destination: WWD Cape May NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.