Beech C24R accident near Trenton, New Jersey, August 15, 1982
On August 15, 1982 at about 2:59 pm local time, a Beech C24R, registered N18958, was destroyed in an accident near Trenton, New Jersey (Mercer County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- August 15, 1982 · about 2:59 pm local time
- Place
- Trenton, New Jersey · Mercer County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C24R · all C24Rs on the register
- Registration
- N18958 · no longer on the register · serial MC538
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN APPROACH TO THE MERCER COUNTY AIRPORT AT TRENTON, N.J., THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER AND LANDED OFF AIRPORT IN TREES. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED BETWEEN LEFT TANK AND OFF. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO FLY TO THE RUNWAY, BUT UNABLE. THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE WILL NOT OPERATE WITH THE SELECTOR IN THE POSITION IN WHICH IT WAS FOUND.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,138 hours in all; 16 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,414 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Ronson Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Lancaster PA
- Destination: Trenton NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 am from TTN, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.