Morristown Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Morristown, New Jersey 07960
Saturday, February 20, 1988 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE MOONEY CRASHED WHILE ON A ILS APPROACH AT NIGHT. THE PLT HAD BEEN UNABLE TO GET INTO TWO OTHER AIRPORTS DUE TO WEATHER AND AIR TRAFFIC. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN SWAMPY AREA. THE PILOT HAD TOLD ATC THAT HE FELT UNEASY ABOUT HIS ENGINE; HOWEVER, HE DID NOT REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT TOLD FAA PERS THAT HE HAD NOT BEEN FEELING WELL, BUT NO MENTION WAS MADE OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE. THE FAA SAID THAT IT APPEARED THAT THE DESCENT RATE WAS 5 DEGREES. THE DESCENT RATE ON THE ILS IS 3 DEGREES. THE ACFT HIT THE GROUND WITH SUFFICENT FORCE TO DISLODGE AND THROW THE ENG ABOUT 175 FT FORWARD OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/20/1988
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 30
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MORRISTOWN
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 07960
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 2
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 3
Degrees magnetic from airport 50
Airport Elevation 187
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 36 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 130
Weather Observation Facility ID EWR
Elevation of weather observation facility 18
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
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 Light
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 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1929
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 22 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38198
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5782E
NTSB Number NYC88LA088
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOONEY
Aircraft Model M20
Aircraft Series Identifier M20
Aircraft Serial Number 24-1515
Certified Max Gross Weight 2740
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 Feb 5 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 500
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DR. WILLIAM MILLER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 44 BAYSIDE DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City ATLANTAHIGHLAND
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HOWARD BALICK
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 322 W 57TH ST.NE
Operator City NEW YORK
Operator State NY
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 10019
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 3N6
Departure City OLD BRIDGE
Departure State NJ
Departure Country
Departure Time 2330
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MMU
Destination City MORRISTOWN
Destination State NJ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 6000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --