Kupper Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Manville, New Jersey 08835
Saturday, August 27, 1988 10:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER COMPLETING SIX LANDINGS WITH AN INSTRUCTOR THE STUDENT PLT WAS RELEASED BY THE INSTRUCTOR FOR HIS FIRST SOLO FLT TO BE CONDUCTED AS A SERIES OF CLOSED PATTERN TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS. ON HIS FIRST SOLO LANDING THE STUDENT PLT LANDED NOSE WHEEL FIRST WITH A HIGH SINK RATE. THE NOSE WHEEL STEERING LINKAGE FAILED AND ON THE SECOND LANDING THE NOSE WHEEL WAS COCKED 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT. AT TOUCH DOWN THE ACFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE RIGHT SHEARING THE NOSE GEAR AND DAMAGING THE PROPELLER, ENGINE MOUNTS, FIREWALL, AND UNDERSIDE LONGITUDINAL STRINGERS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/27/1988
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MANVILLE
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08835
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport KUPPER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 47N
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 90
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 Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
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) --
Density Altitude (feet) 1500
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2090
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 29 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38607
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:04PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2445N
NTSB Number NYC88LA230
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number 38-112
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 90
Airframe Hours 2250
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TRI-STATE AIRWAYS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1034 MILLSTONE ROAD
Aircraft Owner City SOMERVILLE
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 08876
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name KUPPER AERO SALES,INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1034 MILLSTONE ROAD
Operator City SOMERVILLE
Operator State NJ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 08876
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 47N
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 47N
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 7
Runway Length 3415
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --