Amateur-built CELEBRITY accident near North Hampton, New Hampshire, December 4, 2016
On December 4, 2016 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 2011 amateur-built CELEBRITY, registered N28JF, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near North Hampton, New Hampshire (Hampton Airfield). 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 unstabilized approach, which resulted in the biplane being low and striking trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 4, 2016 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- North Hampton, New Hampshire · Hampton Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CELEBRITY NO SERIES, built 2011
- Registration
- N28JF · no longer on the register · serial AV1090
- 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, during the approach to land, the biplane was low and to the right of the runway centerline. He further reported that to recover from the low altitude he added power, but the biplane struck a tree, which impaired its controllability. Subsequently, the biplane glided into small tree(s) and brush and came to rest nose down. The biplane sustained substantial damage to all four wings and struts. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine 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
- Miscellaneous/other during approach defining event
- Altitude deviation during approach
- Course deviation during approach
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach
- Nose over/nose down
- Evacuation during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 809 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 809 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 6, 2016
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 103 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 15, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 1,230 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 2,116 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BVY Beverly MA at 3:30 pm
- Destination: 7B3 North Hampton NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 2,100 ft by 170 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 4:58 pm from KPSM, 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.
Other NTSB records under N28JF the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.