Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Montague, New Jersey 07827
Wednesday, September 20, 1989 16:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT DEPARTED GEORGETOWN, DELAWARE FOR MT POCONO, PENNSYLVANIA. HE LANDED AT CHESWOLD, DELAWARE, WHERE HE RECEIVED UPDATED WEATHER FROM MILLVILLE AUTOMATED FSS. THE PILOT DEPARTED AGAIN, BUT DIVERTED TO KUTZTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, LANDED AND REFUELED. HE ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT TO MT POCONO; HOWEVER, ADVERSE WEATHER PRECLUDED A LANDING AND HE CONTINUED EAST NORTHEAST. THE WEATHER CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE AND THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSE GEAR SETTLED INTO SOFT MUD AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN HIS INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND SOFT TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/20/1989
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MONTAGUE
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 07827
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 9
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
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 400
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) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1603
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 21 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 845
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40489
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2467A
NTSB Number NYC89LA219
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-22
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22
Aircraft Serial Number 22-804
Certified Max Gross Weight 1950
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 26 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 43
Airframe Hours 1921
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GARY MCLAUGHLIN
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 64
Aircraft Owner City PIERMONT
Aircraft Owner State NH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 03779
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 N31
Departure City KUTZTOWN
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code N63
Destination City STROUNDSBURG
Destination State PA
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --