Piper PA-28-236 accident near Wildwood, New Jersey, January 1, 1991
On January 1, 1991 at about 7:36 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-236, registered N81839, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wildwood, New Jersey (Wildwood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT DURING THE DESCENT WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 1, 1991 · about 7:36 pm local time
- Place
- Wildwood, New Jersey · Wildwood
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-236 · all PA-28-236s on the register
- Registration
- N81839 · no longer on the register · serial 28-8011099
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED FROM CRUISE ALTITUDE TO PATTERN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 1000 FEET AGL. DURING THE DESCENT THE PILOT DID NOT APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT. WHEN THE PILOT APPLIED POWER TO MAINTAIN PATTERN ALTITUDE THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY LANDED IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN AND NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE OAT WAS 42 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND THE DEW POINT WAS 26 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. ACCORDING TO THE PROBABILITY OF CARBURETOR ICING CHART, THESE CONDITIONS ARE CONDUCTIVE FOR SERIOUS ICING DURING GLIDE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 405 hours in all; 64 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N88 Doylestown PA at 6:45 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 14, 4,300 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Observation at 7:30 pm from WWD, 1 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N81839 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.