Piper J5A accident near Lumberton, New Jersey, November 2, 1992
On November 2, 1992 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Piper J5A, registered N37958, was destroyed in an accident near Lumberton, New Jersey. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AT AN ALTITUDE NOT POSSIBLE FOR RECOVERY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 1992 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Lumberton, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J5A · all J5As on the register
- Registration
- N37958 · no longer on the register · serial 5-828
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND ABOUT 200 FEET BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. A WITNESS LOCATED AT THE AIRPORT OPERATOR'S BUILDING STATED, '150 FEET OFF EAST END OF RUNWAY 8, THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO PULL STRAIGHT UP, TURNED OVER TO THE LEFT, AND CAME STRAIGHT DOWN.' ANOTHER WITNESS, A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, DRIVING IN A CAR NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE STATED, 'THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN AN EXTREMELY NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO BE JUST ABOVE THE TREE LINE WHEN WE NOTICED THE WING DROP AND THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO ENTER A SPIN.' EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO AIRFRAME OR ENGINE ANOMALIES. THE ELEVATOR WAS TRIMMED TO THE FULL NOSE UP POSITION. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT, A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, HAD ACCRUED ABOUT 617 FLIGHT HOURS, OF WHICH, 42 HOURS WERE IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE. THE PASSENGER IN THE BACK SEAT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES AND DOES NOT REMEMBER THE ACCIDENT OR THE 24 HOURS PRECEDING THE ACCIDENT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 617 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 582 as pilot in command; 180 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 1992; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A658 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,400 ft; scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 pm from PHL, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.