Piper PA-28R-200 accident near White Plains, New York, April 4, 1994
On April 4, 1994 at about 10:48 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N5335T, was substantially damaged in an accident near White Plains, New York (Westchester airport). It was a personal 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 partial loss of engine power as the result of a disconnected throttle cable, and the subsequent forced landing and ditching in water to avoid collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 1994 · about 10:48 pm local time
- Place
- White Plains, New York · Westchester · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N5335T · registry record · serial 28R-7235208
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, WHEN HE OBSERVED A DROP IN MANIFOLD PRESSURE TO 13 INCHES AND A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THROTTLE MOVEMENT HAD NO AFFECT ON THE MANIFOLD PRESSURE. HE INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO RUNWAY 29. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE AIRPLANE WITH HEAVY BRAKING, BUT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY AVAILABLE AND TREES WERE OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. HE LIFTED THE AIRPLANE OFF THE RUNWAY AND RETRACTED THE GEAR AND SOME WING FLAPS. HE TRIED AGAIN TO INCREASE ENGINE POWER, BUT THERE WAS STILL NO RESPONSE. HE ELECTED TO DITCH THE AIRPLANE IN A LAKE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE FUEL INJECTOR CONTROL ARM.
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: 292 hours in all; 195 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 206 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,566 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 24, 1993; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rnt Associates INC.
The flight
- Departed from: LWM Lawrence MA at 9:20 pm
- Destination: HPN NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,451 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.
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.