Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Buena, New Jersey 08310
Tuesady, October 27, 1987 18:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The Beech model 19 took off in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) with the owner/operator and a flight instructor onboard. A few minutes after takeoff the aircraft experienced a loss of electrical power. The alternator circuit breaker popped, the flight instructor reset it and it popped again. It was not reset. Because of the IMC and the rapid loss of electrical power, a precautionary off airport landing on a road was made. The aircraft received substantial damage upon striking a pole. The battery was found with a specific gravity of zero; the alternator worked when ground checked; and the alternator circuit breaker was found in the open position. The reason that the alternator circuit breaker tripped was not determined. This report was modified on February 9, 2005.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a loss of electrical power for undetermined reasons, which necessitated a precautionary landing. Factors were rain, clouds, dark night, and the pole. This report was modified on February 9, 2005.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/27/1987
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1845
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City BUENA
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08310
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 10
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 Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1855 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 110
Weather Observation Facility ID ACY
Elevation of weather observation facility 76
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
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) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Heavy
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2393
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 27 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2025
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36276
Date of most recent change to record Mar 2 2005 9:48AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5082T
NTSB Number NYC88LA019
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model 19A
Aircraft Series Identifier 19A
Aircraft Serial Number MB-435
Certified Max Gross Weight 2250
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 Oct 1 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 3060
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DONALD DUFFIELD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 324 GWYNEED DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City MT. LAUREL
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 08054
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 No
Departure Airport Code MIV
Departure City MILLVILLE
Departure State NJ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1832
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code N14
Destination City LUMBERTON
Destination State NJ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
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 --