Somerset Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Somerville, New Jersey 08876
Wednesday, September 15, 2004 9:06 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Upon touching down on the runway, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway, struck a parked airplane, and continued into a hangar. Inside the hangar, the accident airplane struck another parked airplane, before coming to a stop. After the accident, state authorities arrested the pilot, and found a supply of prescription sedative medication in the airplane. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical abnormalities with the airframe, landing gear assembly, or the engine. Review of the pilot's medical records by the NTSB Medical Officer revealed that on the pilot's most recent application for second-class airman medical certificate, the pilot indicated "Yes" in response to the question about "Substance dependence" and "Alcohol dependence or abuse." Under "Comments on History and Findings" the pilot stated, "...involved in airplane crash. Substance abuse involved..."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing. A factor was the pilot's impairment due to the influence of non-prescribed pain medication.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/15/2004
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 906
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Somerville
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08876
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 403733N
Event Location Longitude 0744012W
Event Location Airport Somerset Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SMQ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 105
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 907 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID SMQ
Elevation of weather observation facility 105
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.31
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 20518
NTSB Notification Source Eastern Region Ops Center
NTSB Notification Date Sep 15 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2006 8:45AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Allentown, PA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N29BF
NTSB Number NYC04LA213
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 185F
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18502380
Certified Max Gross Weight 3350
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Apr 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 1590
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Elm Leaf Inc
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Haddam
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 06435
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Michael Foise
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Higganum
Operator State CT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 06441
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 HFD
Departure City Hartford
Departure State CT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code SMQ
Destination City Somerville
Destination State NJ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 8 2006 4:45PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 2733
Runway Width 65
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --