Piper PA-28-140 accident near Somerville, New Jersey, September 5, 1991
On September 5, 1991 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N6183J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Somerville, New Jersey. It was an instructional 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
AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOLLOWING A POWER LOSS DUE TO OIL EXHAUSTION. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OPERATORS DECISION NOT TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PIPER CHEROKEE SERVICE MANUAL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1991 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Somerville, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N6183J · no longer on the register · serial 28-7625228
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT APPLICANT WAS ON HER CHECKRIDE WHEN THE ENGINE LOST OIL PRESSURE. THE CHECK AIRMAN TOOK CONTROL AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A CORN FIELD, THE MOST SUITABLE LANDING AREA AVAILABLE. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THE ENGINE OIL LINE WITH 1949 HOURS ON IT HAD RUPTURED. EXAMINATION OF THE PIPER SERVICE MANUAL SHOW A RECOMMENDATION TO CHANGE THE OIL LINES AT 1000 HOURS.
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: student
- Flight time: 127 hours in all; 127 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,602 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 25, 1991; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Somerset Air Service INC.
The flight
- Departed from: N52 Somerset NJ at 6:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N6183J 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.