Piper PA-28-151 accident near New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, February 7, 1993
On February 7, 1993 at about 7:48 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N32307, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Cumberland, Pennsylvania (Capital City airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING IN THE RIVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 1993 · about 7:48 pm local time
- Place
- New Cumberland, Pennsylvania · Capital City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N32307 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7515122
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT MADE A TOUCH AND GO LANDING AND STARTED TO CLIMB FOR ANOTHER APPROACH. AT APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT SAID, ' [I] TURNED CARB HEAT ON...AN IMMEDIATE INCREASE IN POWER [OCCURRED] FOLLOWED BY A DROP IN POWER.' THE POWER LOSS CONTINUED, AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN THE RIVER. AFTER DRYING THE ENGINE, THE FAA WAS ABLE TO RUN THE ENGINE 'SMOOTHLY DURING THE RUN-UP PERIOD.' NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL CONTAMINATION WAS 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: student
- Flight time: 24 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 0.6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,916 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 29, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Multserv Flying Club
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,894 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 23°F (-5°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 N32307 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.