Piper PA-28-180 and Cessna 172K accident near Old Bridge, New Jersey, July 14, 1991
On July 14, 1991 at about 7:40 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28-180 (N7191W) and Cessna 172K (N79957), were involved in the same accident near Old Bridge, New Jersey (Old Bridge airport). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN PROPER VISUAL LOOKOUT. FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS BY THE PILOTS.
THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN PROPER VISUAL LOOKOUT. FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS BY THE PILOTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1991 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Old Bridge, New Jersey · Old Bridge
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7191W · registry record · serial 28-1003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N79957 · registry record · serial 17258284
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-180 final · quoted from the NTSB record
RUNWAY 06 HAS A DISPLACED LANDING THRESHOLD, BECAUSE OF TALL TREES AT THE APPROACH END. THE PIPER WAS LANDING AS THE CESSNA WAS STARTING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THE TWO AIRPLANES COLLIDED ON THE RUNWAY. NEITHER PILOT HEARD RADIO POSITION REPORTS FROM THE OTHER PILOT. THIS IS AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172K final · quoted from the NTSB record
RUNWAY 06 HAS A DISPLACED LANDING THRESHOLD, BECAUSE OF TALL TREES AT THE APPROACH END. THE PIPER WAS LANDING AS THE CESSNA WAS STARTING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THE TWO AIRPLANES COLLIDED ON THE RUNWAY. NEITHER PILOT HEARD RADIO POSITION REPORTS FROM THE OTHER PILOT. THIS IS AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT.
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 for the Piper PA-28-180 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 556 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,594 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172K from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,020 hours in all; 520 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 980 as pilot in command; 40 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2N8 Matawan NJ at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,594 ft by 50 ft
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.
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.