Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kingswood Twsp, New Jersey 08002
Saturday, August 26, 1995 19:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot had an argument with two people. Using a handgun, he shot both of them, wounding one and killing the other. He then stole an airplane, and while taxiing for takeoff, he exchanged gunfire with a person on the ground. About 20 minutes after takeoff, the airplane collided with trees in a wooded area. There were no known witnesses to the accident; however, there were indications that the airplane was descending when it crashed. Also, there was evidence that the engine was providing power during impact. No evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found with the airplane. The wing flaps were retracted. There was no determination of whether or not the pilot and/or airplane were struck by gunfire. The occurrence was the subject of a criminal investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/26/1995
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City KINGSWOOD TWSP
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08002
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1845 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 177
Weather Observation Facility ID TTN
Elevation of weather observation facility 213
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
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) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1797
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 26 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1945
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:31PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N64380
NTSB Number NYC95LA207
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier 172M
Aircraft Serial Number 17265206
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LABATE AVIATION INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 15 SPRING MEADOW DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City MALVERN
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19355
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name KENNETH W. JEROLAMAN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address C/O LABATES AIRPORT
Operator City REVERE
Operator State PA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 18953
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 No
Departure Airport Code PA24
Departure City REVERE
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1840
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City UNKNOWN
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --