Amateur-built E.A.A. P-2 accident near Pottstown, Pennsylvania, May 17, 1983
On May 17, 1983 at about 11:35 pm local time, a amateur-built E.A.A. P-2, registered N40JM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pottstown, Pennsylvania (Pottstown-Limerick airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 17, 1983 · about 11:35 pm local time
- Place
- Pottstown, Pennsylvania · Pottstown-Limerick · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built E.A.A. P-2
- Registration
- N40JM · registry record · serial 002JN-868
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE HAD JUST PURCHASED THE ACFT AND THIS WAS HIS FIRST FLIGHT. SINCE THIS WAS A SINGLE SEAT HOME BUILT ACFT THE STUDENT PILOT BELIEVED HE COULD NOT GET AN INSTRUCTOR TO CHECK HIM OUT OR SIGN HIM OUT FOR SOLO. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT SEVERAL WITNESSES SAW THIS ACFT FLYING AT EXTREMELY LOW ALTITUDE AROUND THE AIRPORT. AN INSPECTION OF THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED TREE BRANCHES AND TREE LEAVES ON THE WINGS AND STRUTS. THE PILOT DID NOT SUBMIT A REPORT SO HIS PILOT EXPERIENCE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. HE DID STATE TO AN INVESTIGATING TROOPER THAT HE 'BALLOONED BADLY' DURING THE LANDING AND BOUNCED OFF THE RUNWAY.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 135 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-250 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,500 ft by 58 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.