Beech 76 accident near Manville, New Jersey, September 6, 2012
On September 6, 2012 at about 3:35 pm local time, a Beech 76, registered N6716L, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Manville, New Jersey (Central Jersey Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing and attempted go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2012 · about 3:35 pm local time
- Place
- Manville, New Jersey · Central Jersey Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 76 · all 76s on the register
- Registration
- N6716L · no longer on the register · serial ME-326
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, after a normal approach, the airplane drifted to the left after touchdown and he commenced a go-around. As he began the go-around, the pilot-rated passenger called out for “full power.” The airplane turned and rolled sharply to the right. The pilot corrected with flight control inputs, and the airplane banked to the left; the left wing tip struck a dirt mound located off the left side of the runway. The airplane then collided with a perimeter fence and came to rest inverted. The pilot-rated passenger reported that the airplane departed the left side of the runway during the landing and subsequently “porpoised.” Although preliminary on-site examination of the wreckage indicated that the right engine “did not appear to be operating” and that the right engine mixture control was in the idle cutoff position, a witness, who was a flight instructor, stated that he observed no indications of an engine failure while the airplane was airborne. Subsequent examination of both engines revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure, and both propeller assemblies showed evidence of rotation at impact.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 264 hours in all; 72 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Crew member
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,675 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 15, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 3,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 39N Princeton NJ at 2:30 pm
- Destination: 47N Manville NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,510 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from SMQ, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.