Amateur-built AURIGA accident near Manville, New Jersey, July 16, 2014
On July 16, 2014 at about 2:10 pm local time, a 2011 amateur-built AURIGA, registered N234VV, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Manville, New Jersey (Central Jersey Rgnl 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
The pilot’s improper preflight fuel planning and in-flight fuel monitoring, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2014 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Manville, New Jersey · Central Jersey Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AURIGA, built 2011
- Registration
- N234VV · registry record · serial 26
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was conducting a local personal flight in the experimental amateur-built airplane. While the airplane was on final approach and the pilot was maneuvering to land, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The airplane then impacted trees about 1/4 mile from the approach end of the runway. A witness reported hearing the engine "sputtering badly" before impact. According to local authorities who responded to the accident, the pilot reported that he "estimated" that he had sufficient fuel for 45 minutes of flight on board before departure and that the flight was about 18 minutes long. However, he further reported that he may not have seen one of the fuel warning lights illuminate during the landing and that he may have been "too low on fuel." Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the accident site revealed no evidence of fuel spillage and no fuel odor. Therefore, given the evidence and the pilot's statement, it is likely that the engine experienced a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning and in-flight fuel monitoring.
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
- Fuel exhaustion during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,819 hours in all; 133 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: October 15, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru ED-33 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 47N Manville NJ
- Destination: 47N Manville NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 3,510 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KSMQ, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.