American General Acft CORP AG5B accident near Fairfield, New Jersey, January 15, 2026
On January 15, 2026 at about 10:15 pm local time, a 1991 American General Acft CORP AG5B, registered N59WM, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Fairfield, New Jersey (Essex County 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’s failure to maintain an appropriate glide path during the landing approach in gusting wind conditions, resulting in an impact with trees prior to the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 2026 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Fairfield, New Jersey · Essex County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American General Acft CORP AG5B, built 1991 · all AG5Bs on the register
- Registration
- N59WM · registry record · serial 10037
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported being on the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern when a 16 to 24-knot tailwind pushed the airplane further from the runway than he had planned. While on final approach, the airplane was low with a headwind. Following a momentary wind shift, the airplane lost more altitude and it struck the tops of trees resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. Despite the impact, the pilot was able to clear the trees and land safely on the runway. The pilot also reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 257 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 29, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,140 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 18, 2025; 116 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 4,140 hours total
- Operator: Hudson River Wings LLC
The flight
- Departed from: N07 Lincoln Park NJ at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,719 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 280° at 12 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.52 inHg
- Observation at 5:00 pm from CDW
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCDW 152153Z 28012G22KT 10SM CLR M01/M13 A2952 RMK AO2 SLP001 T10111133
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N59WM the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA26LA096.