North American SNJ-5 accident near Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1982
On May 16, 1982 at about 9:00 pm local time, a North American SNJ-5, registered N3673F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania (New Garden Flying Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 1982 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania · New Garden Flying Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American SNJ-5 · all SNJ-5s on the register
- Registration
- N3673F · no longer on the register · serial 90907
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, TAKEOFF AND DEPARTURE WERE NORMAL, HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST POWER REDUCTION THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND WINDMILLED TO TOUCHDOWN. THE PILOT IN THE REAR SEAT TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND LANDED IN A PLOWED FIELD. THE LOSS OF POWER WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A MASTER ROD SEPARATION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,200 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 4,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,500 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P & W 1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Toughkenamon PA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: New London PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.