Cessna 190 accident near Somerville, New Jersey, October 27, 1999
On October 27, 1999 at about 8:42 pm local time, a Cessna 190, registered N195EL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Somerville, New Jersey (Somerset Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 1999 · about 8:42 pm local time
- Place
- Somerville, New Jersey · Somerset Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 190 · all 190s on the register
- Registration
- N195EL · registry record · serial 7794
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane bounced as it touched down on the runway. During the bounce, a gust of wind appeared and 'drifted the airplane to the left.' The airplane began to 'groundloop to the right,' and as the pilot applied the brakes 'to straighten it,' the airplane flipped onto its back. Examination of the runway revealed marks about 300 feet long consistent with those of airplane tire skid marks. The winds reported at SMQ at 1653 were from 010 degrees at 7 knots.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,388 hours in all; 938 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,388 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R755S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6W6 Hanover PA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: SMQ Somerville NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,733 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.