Camden County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Berlin, New Jersey 08009
Monday, August 16, 1999 12:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported he had performed two full stop takeoffs and landings and was on base leg for his third landing when the engine lost power. He left the landing gear extended, checked the fuel selector, but did not move it, and landed in a clearing. The left wing struck a tree and ruptured the fuel tank. Emergency personnel reported no smell of fuel at the accident site. Fuel was found in the right tank, but there was no evidence of fuel in the left tank, nor was there evidence of a fuel spill on the ground. In addition a small amount of fuel was found in the line from the engine driven fuel pump to the fuel control unit, and no fuel was found in the line from the fuel control unit to the fuel injection manifold. Fuel system continuity was confirmed and no evidence of blockage was found. The fuel injection unit was found to flow rich at most settings. No problems were found with the electric auxiliary fuel pump or the engine driven fuel pump. The pilot reported he departed with full tanks and could not explain why there was no evidence of a fuel spill from the ruptured fuel tank.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s).

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/16/1999
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BERLIN
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08009
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CAMDEN COUNTY AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 19N
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 50
Airport Elevation 150
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1254 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 303
Weather Observation Facility ID PHL
Elevation of weather observation facility 22
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 966
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 16 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1540
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:51AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2721R
NTSB Number NYC99LA203
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28R-200
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28R-200
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-35266
Certified Max Gross Weight 2600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 7 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 28
Airframe Hours 3938
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name VIC S. IYER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 29 GETTYSBURG DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City VORHEES
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 08043
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ANIL S. IYER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 19N
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 3102
Runway Width 45
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --