Piper PA-28-161 accident near Hammonton, New Jersey, August 7, 1989
On August 7, 1989 at about 4:06 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N22179, was destroyed in an accident near Hammonton, New Jersey (Piney Hollow airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT OVERSHOOTING A LANDING DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING DUE TO DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT THE FLIGHT AFTER BEING ADVISED THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY NOT ASSURING THAT APPROPRIATE IFR CHARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR THE FLIGHT INTO KNOWN MARGINAL WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 1989 · about 4:06 pm local time
- Place
- Hammonton, New Jersey · Piney Hollow
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N22179 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7916063
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT RECEIVED WX BRIEFING FOR A VFR FLIGHT TO THE ATLANTIC CITY, NJ AREA. VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. AFTER ARRIVING IN THE CAPE MAY AREA HE DECIDED TO RETURN TO HIS DEPARTURE POINT DUE TO WX. DURING THE RETURN FLIGHT HE MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT PINEY HOLLOW DUE TO LOW CEILINGS & RAIN. HE LANDED LONG AND RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY INTO TREES. HE DID NOT FILE IFR IN FLIGHT SINCE HE DID NOT HAVE THE APPROPRIATE ENROUTE & APPROACH CHARTS WITH HIM.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 472 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D36 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PNE Northeast Phil PA at 2:06 pm
- Destination: Cape May NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 2,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.