Piper PA-28-140 N7329F accident near Allentown, Pennsylvania

Probable cause

A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

NTSB analysis

**This report was modified on February 26, 2025. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.**

The flight instructor reported that the airplane was not performing as expected during the takeoff and initial climb. He took control of the airplane from his student and was able to clear trees off the departure end of the runway, but the airplane would not continue climbing and the engine was “noticeably weak.” He maneuvered the airplane, maintaining the best angle of climb airspeed (VX), and was unable to find a suitable landing area. The airplane impacted trees and the ground and a postimpact fire ensued.

Postaccident examination of the airplane and its engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies; however, the extensive fire damage precluded functional testing and examination of several airframe and engine components.

Recorded flight data indicated that the airplane was below the published Vx airspeed, but above stall speed. The airspeed derived from the data used surface winds reported at the departure airport and the actual winds encountered by the airplane could not be determined. This discrepancy could account for the difference in the derived speed and the speed the pilot reported. Operation of the airplane below VX could have reduced the airplane’s climb rate but any deficit to climb performance could not be quantified.

The recorded temperature and dewpoint at the time of the accident was conducive to the development of serious icing at glide power and was between the range for icing at glide and cruise power and serious icing at cruise power.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN22FA436 for the full record.