Amateur-built Minimax 1500R accident near Robbinsville, New Jersey, April 14, 2003
On April 14, 2003 at about 7:12 pm local time, a amateur-built Minimax 1500R, registered N20569, was substantially damaged in an accident near Robbinsville, New Jersey (Trenton-Robbinsville Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of power for undertermined reason(s).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 2003 · about 7:12 pm local time
- Place
- Robbinsville, New Jersey · Trenton-Robbinsville Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Minimax 1500R
- Registration
- N20569 · registry record · serial 1035
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/builder reported that he was operating his homebuilt airplane on its first flight. While performing a go-around, he noticed a partial loss of power. He was unable to restore full power, and elected to land on a golf course ahead of him. During the approach , the airplane struck a tree, and came to rest inverted. Examination of the engine and fuel system by an inspector from the FAA failed to find the cause of the reported power loss.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 125 hours in all; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 53 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 6, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 30, 2002; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 640 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N87 Robbinsville NJ at 8:00 pm
- Destination: N87 NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,275 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from TTN, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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 NYC03LA085.