Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Lumberton, New Jersey, April 14, 1997
On April 14, 1997, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N29M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lumberton, New Jersey (Flying W airport). It was a personal 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
The pilot's delay in initiating remedial action to arrest an excessive descent rate during a go-around. A crosswind condition was a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 1997
- Place
- Lumberton, New Jersey · Flying W
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N29M · registry record · serial 32R-7780409
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and passenger overflew the airport and observed the windsock favoring the use of runway 01. While on final approach to runway 01, about 50 feet above the runway, the airplane encountered a sudden gust of wind from the left. The pilot added power, and was about to retract the landing gear, when the airplane struck the ground in a level attitude and bounced. After the accident the pilot observed the windsock fully extended, pointing perpendicular to runway 01. Winds reported 10 miles northeast of the airport were from 310 degrees at 17, gusting to 22 knots. The pilot reported that he experienced no problems with the engine or flight controls.
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: 903 hours in all; 778 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 564 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,329 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 3, 1997; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO540/KIG5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ALB Albany NY at 10:30 am
- Destination: N14 NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 3,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 310° at 17 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from WRI, 10 miles away
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.