Morristown Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
Sunday, May 30, 1999 17:42 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The Cessna 206 was on a shallow cruise descent, when the engine lost power while operating over a residential area. An onboard witness reported the pilot was able to restart the engine twice, and after each restart the engine ran for a few seconds and quit again. During the forced landing, the airplane struck trees and the engine/firewall/instrument panel separated from the remainder of the airplane. The fuel lines separated, and several of the passengers were burned. The remainder of the fuel system was intact. Fuel was found in both wing tanks, and in all lines forward of the firewall. When the engine was placed in a test cell it performed satisfactorily. The day was warm with an outside air temperature of about 90 F, and a dewpoint of 52 F. Radar data revealed the airspeed was constant about 125 knots, and as the airplane descended through 1,500 feet, the airspeed decreased to a low of about 63 knots. Just prior to loss of radar contact, the airspeed had increased back to about 100 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

was a power loss for undetermined reason(s) while operating over unsuitable terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/30/1999
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1742
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City PISCATAWAY
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08854
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MORRISTOWN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MMU
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 16
Degrees magnetic from airport 202
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1745 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 22
Weather Observation Facility ID MMU
Elevation of weather observation facility 187
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
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) 2100
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 2
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 5
Injury Total All 7
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1318
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 30 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 10:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4724F
NTSB Number NYC99FA130
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model P206B
Aircraft Series Identifier P206B
Aircraft Serial Number P206-0324
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 5 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 91
Airframe Hours 7841
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name L&M AVIATION, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 16 WOODBINE TRAIL
Aircraft Owner City PARSIPPANY
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07054
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
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 No
Departure Airport Code WWD
Departure City CAPE MAY
Departure State NJ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MMU
Destination City MORRISTOWN
Destination State NJ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:27PM
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 --