Piper PA-28-151 accident near Newport, New Hampshire, July 24, 1998
On July 24, 1998 at about 3:58 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N44438, was destroyed in an accident near Newport, New Hampshire (Parlin Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The seizure of the throttle shaft, due to the overhaul facilities' failure to insure all metal fragments had been removed from the carburetor before inserting the throttle shaft after reaming the throttle shaft bushings.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1998 · about 3:58 pm local time
- Place
- Newport, New Hampshire · Parlin Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N44438 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7415639
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After departing and climbing to a cruise altitude of 6,500 feet above mean sea level, the pilot made a power reduction to descend below a cloud layer. After reducing power the throttle became stuck. Unable to move the throttle, the pilot diverted to an alternate airport. With the engine still running the airplane touchdown on the runway, but the pilot was unable to stop the airplane. The airplane exited the departure end of the runway, traveled 75 feet, and came to rest on top of a hill. While landing, the pilot thought the throttle was in the idle position. After the accident he realized it was slightly open. Examination of the carburetor, which had 12 hours since overhaul, revealed that the throttle shaft could not be rotated by hand, and a punch and hammer was required to remove the shaft. The shaft was galled where it rested on the bushings. Both ends of the original shaft (part number CF 13-1521) measured .3105 of an inch in diameter. A new shaft supplied by the overhaul facility measured .3104 of an inch in diameter at both ends. Under the supervision of the NTSB Investigator, the original throttle bushings were re reamed with the original router. Then, the new throttle shaft was inserted, and it rotated freely. The old shaft was then inserted, but was difficult to rotate. After removing the old throttle shaft, the bushings were re reamed, using a new router the company had bought after the accident. Again, the old shaft was inserted, but this time it rotated freely. The butterfly valve was then installed, and the throttle shaft continued to rotate without difficulty
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
- Flight time: 128 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 83 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,663 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 17, 1998; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BED Bedford MA at 3:00 pm
- Destination: BTV Burlington VT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 3,450 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from LEB, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.