Piper PA-32-300 accident near Vincentown, New Jersey, April 9, 1997
On April 9, 1997 at about 7:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N9768C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vincentown, New Jersey (Red Lion airport). It was a positioning 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in an on ground loss of control. A contributing factor was a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 1997 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Vincentown, New Jersey · Red Lion
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N9768C · registry record · serial 32-78400116
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after touchdown on runway 5, he applied the brakes and the airplane swerved left. The airplane went of the left side of the runway and struck trees. FAA examination of the brake system did not reveal evidence of mechanical malfunction. The wind report for a nearby airport was 340 degrees at 19 knots with gusts to 23 knots.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 512 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 424 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,276 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 11, 1996; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VAY Mount Holly NJ at 6:40 pm
- Destination: N73
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 2,800 ft by 43 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 19 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from WRI, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC97LA072.