Solberg-Hunterdon Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Readington, New Jersey 08870
Sunday, July 31, 1994 14:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STEARMAN WAS TAXIING ONTO THE RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF, AND THE PIPER J-3 WAS EXITING THE RUNWAY AFTER LANDING AND BACK TAXIING ON THE RUNWAY. NEITHER PILOT SAW THE OTHER AIRPLANE. THE PROPELLER OF THE STEARMAN IMPACTED THE RIGHT WING OF THE PIPER. THE COLLISION OCCURRED DURING AN AIRSHOW, AND BOTH PILOTS WERE CONDUCTING SIGHTSEEING FLIGHTS AND PERFORMING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. THE AIRPORT HAD NO CONTROL TOWER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE TAXIING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/31/1994
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City READINGTON
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08870
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SOLBERG-HUNTERDON AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID N51
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 195
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
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 None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 604
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 31 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1535
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 7 2001 12:43PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N2313 N7308H
NTSB Number NYC94LA141A NYC94LA141B
Missing Aircraft Indicator N N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None None
Flight plan Was Activated? -- --
Damage Minor Substantial
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Boeing Stearman PIPER
Aircraft Model PT-13 J-3
Aircraft Series Identifier PT-13 J-3
Aircraft Serial Number 75-7041 20569
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200 1220
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No No
Flight Crew Seats -- --
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats -- --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2 2
Number of Engines 1 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual Annual
Date of Last Inspection -- Jul 5 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection -- 20
Airframe Hours -- 3870
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated No No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown Unknown
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name DOMINICK J. DEL ROSSO EDWARD J. DEL ROSSO
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 278A, AMBOY RD. 277 BAMBOY RD
Aircraft Owner City MATAWAN MATAWAN
Aircraft Owner State NJ NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07747 07747
Operator is an individual? -- --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No No
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown 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) Unknown Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 22 2001 3:51PM Aug 22 2001 3:51PM
User who most recently changed record dbo dbo
Since inspection or accident -- --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0 0
Runway Length -- --
Runway Width -- --
Sight Seeing flight Yes Yes
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --