Beech A36 accident near Farmingdale, New Jersey, May 5, 2003
On May 5, 2003 at about 7:18 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N111TW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Farmingdale, New Jersey (Monmouth Executive airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delayed decision to refuel, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 2003 · about 7:18 pm local time
- Place
- Farmingdale, New Jersey · Monmouth Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N111TW · registry record · serial E2555
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting a flight from Sarasota, Florida, to Bradley, Connecticut. After about 5 hours en route, the pilot requested to land at another airport, with the intention of refueling. Witness near the accident site observed the airplane in a slow descent, and reported that the propeller was not turning. One witness reported that the airplane's three propeller blades were "barely moving." The pilot did not report any problems to air traffic control. The airplane impacted trees and came to rest about 2 miles from the airport. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical failures. Freshly cut tree branches were observed at the accident site, and engine damage was consistent with rotation. Examination of the airplane's fuel system revealed less than 1 gallon of fuel; however, portions of the fuel system were compromised. On site examination of the accident site did not reveled any evidence of a fuel spill around the accident site area.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 21,600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,375 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 11, 2002; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,850 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-B17F (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SRQ Sarasota FL at 2:15 pm
- Destination: BDR Bridgeport CT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 14, 7,300 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from BLM, 2 miles away
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.
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 NYC03FA095.