Amateur-built GLASAIR SH-2 accident near Cape May, New Jersey, July 21, 1993
On July 21, 1993 at about 7:30 pm local time, a amateur-built GLASAIR SH-2, registered N522EB, was destroyed in an accident near Cape May, New Jersey (Cape May County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT BY NOT ASSURING THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE PROPER POSITION FOR TAKEOFF, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER; AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. THE PILOT'S DISTRACTION (DIVERTED ATTENTION) WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 1993 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cape May, New Jersey · Cape May County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GLASAIR SH-2 GLASAIR SH
- Registration
- N522EB · no longer on the register · serial 522
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE FLIGHT, THE PILOT STARTED THE ENGINE BY USING THE AUXILIARY (AUX) FUEL TANK. HE ESTIMATED THERE WAS ABOUT 2 GAL OF FUEL IN THE AUX TANK AND 20 TO 22 GAL IN THE MAIN TANK. HE INTENDED TO MOVE THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE MAIN TANK FOR TAKEOFF, BUT SAID HE WAS DISTRACTED WHEN ANOTHER AIRCRAFT TAXIED IN FRONT OF HIM, THOUGH HE WAS USING A CHECKLIST. SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF, AT ABOUT 75 TO 100 FT AGL, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT SAID HE MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE MAIN TANK POSITION, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART. THE PILOT STARTED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING, BUT THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,700 hours in all; 217 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 217 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1992; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WWD at 7:30 pm
- Destination: WWD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.