Continental EL TOMCAT MK5A accident near Imlaystown, New Jersey, June 15, 1982
On June 15, 1982 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Continental EL TOMCAT MK5A (helicopter), registered N9062T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Imlaystown, New Jersey. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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 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
- June 15, 1982 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Imlaystown, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Continental EL TOMCAT MK5A EL TOMCAT
- Registration
- N9062T · registry record · serial MK5A
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A SWATH RUN, A BIRD FLEW INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND THE PILOT ROLLED THE HELICOPTER TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID FURTHER BIRD STRIKES. THE RIGHT SPRAY BOOM CONTACTED THE CROPS AND PULLED THE AIRCRAFT INTO THE GROUND RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 17,290 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 145 in the last 90 days; 15,745 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,282 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435A1E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cordoba Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Imlaystown NJ at 10:00 am
- Destination: Imlaystown NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 149°F (65°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.