Piper PA-28-161 accident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 2, 1991
On March 2, 1991 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N2960B, was destroyed in an accident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Northeast Philadelphia airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
DUE TO FAILURE OF THE INDUCTION AIR CONTROL/AIR FILTER/SCREEN, WHICH BLOCKED AIRFLOW THROUGH THE CARBURETOR THROAT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 1991 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Northeast Philadelphia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N2960B · no longer on the register · serial 2906B
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE AT ABOUT 300 TO 400 FEET AGL, THE AIRPLANE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED ON THE ROOF OF A BUILDING AND BURNED. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A SPONGE-LIKE MATERIAL LODGED BENEATH AND IN THE SECONDARY VENTURI OF THE CARBURETOR. THE PRIMARY VENTURI OF THE CARBURETOR WAS MISSING. THE BRACKET AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY WAS NOT 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: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,492 hours in all; 527 in this make and model; 1,373 as pilot in command; 1,203 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-DG3 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Northeast Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: PNE Philadelphia PA at 5:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
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 | 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 N2960B 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.