Bucker Jungmann BU-131 accident near Tower City, Pennsylvania, July 22, 1982
On July 22, 1982 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Bucker Jungmann BU-131, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N55JG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tower City, Pennsylvania (Bendigo airport). 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
- July 22, 1982 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Tower City, Pennsylvania · Bendigo
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bucker Jungmann BU-131, amateur-built
- Registration
- N55JG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 50 FT AGL DURING TAKEOFF AND LANDED IN A ROLLING FIELD OF CROPS. THE PLANE CONTACTED THE GROUND IN A RIGHT BANK/NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND CAME TO REST AT THE POINT OF IMPACT. THE ENGINE SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE AND THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FUEL, OIL AND IGNITION SYSTEMS. SMALL RUSTED METTALIC PARTICLES WERE FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR, FUEL SCREEN, FUEL LINES AND IN THE FUEL, BUT NO BLOCKAGE WAS VERIFIED. AN INSPECTION OF THE FUEL DISPENSING EQUIPMENT, WHERE THE AIRCRAFT WAS REFUELED, REVEALED THAT THE EQUIPMENT WAS IN A DETERIORATED CONDITION.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,000 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 340 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hirth HM504 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Tower City PA at 4:44 pm
- Destination: Tower City PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 189°F (87°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.