Newton Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Newton, New Jersey 07860
Friday, July 23, 1999 15:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot preflighted the airplane and added 1 1/2 quarts of oil before the flight. Once on the runway, the pilot advanced the throttle, and the engine responded normally. At 100 feet agl, oil started spreading back onto the windscreen. The instructor took the controls, and reduced power to prevent overheating. Both felt there was an uncommanded reduction in propeller RPM, and continued flight would not be possible. The pilot added that the engine, 'felt and sounded normal' when the airplane impacted the trees. The engine oil filler cap was found removed and hanging by a chain. In addition, the oil that spread aft over the engine and cowling created a fan approximately 30 degrees wide, and started at the engine oil filler cap. No pre-impact failures or malfunctions were found with either the engine or the airframe. The pilot's operating handbook states, 'When oil pressure to the piston in the propeller hub is relieved, centrifugal force, assisted by an internal spring, twists the blades towards low pitch (high RPM).' The instructor had 4 hours of flight experience in the accident airplane's make and model. The pilot had 13 hours in the accident airplane's make and model.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to secure the oil cap after adding oil; the flight instructor's failure to insure the preflight was completed properly; and oil on the windshield obstructing forward vision.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/23/1999
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NEWTON
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 07860
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport NEWTON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3N5
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 620
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1445 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 131
Weather Observation Facility ID MMU
Elevation of weather observation facility 200
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
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) 37
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 496
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 23 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 20 2001 4:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9712X
NTSB Number NYC99LA182
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 210
Aircraft Series Identifier 210
Aircraft Serial Number 21058012
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
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 Oct 30 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 2880
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HAWK AERO INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 35 WARREN RD
Aircraft Owner City SPARTA
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07871
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 3N5
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
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 Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 20 2001 4:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 6
Runway Length 2546
Runway Width 45
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --