Taylorcraft J-2 accident near Pittstown, New Jersey, November 22, 1993
On November 22, 1993 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Taylorcraft J-2, registered N19565, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pittstown, New Jersey (Sky Manor Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDEPATH. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PRESENCE OF SUNGLARE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 1993 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pittstown, New Jersey · Sky Manor Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft J-2
- Registration
- N19565 · no longer on the register · serial 1765
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING APPROACH TO A GRASS STRIP, THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS AIRPLANE'S CLEARANCE FROM TREES AND THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING IMPACTED A TREE. THE AIRPLANE SPUN AROUND THE TREE AND CAME TO REST ABOUT 100 FEET SHORT OF THE GRASS STRIP'S THRESHOLD. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE SUN WAS IN HIS EYES AND THIS AFFECTED HIS PERIPHERAL VISION.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 879 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 879 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-40-4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from EWR, 32 miles away
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.