Beech B23 accident near Pittstown, New Jersey, November 17, 1983
On November 17, 1983 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Beech B23, registered N18937, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pittstown, New Jersey (Sky Manor airport). It was an instructional 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
- November 17, 1983 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pittstown, New Jersey · Sky Manor
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B23 · all B23s on the register
- Registration
- N18937 · no longer on the register · serial L-23986-36A
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FIRST LANDING THE FLT ENCOUNTERED WINDSHEAR. THE STUDENT DID NOT MAKE PROPER CORRECTION SO THE CFI TOOK CONTROL &LANDED THE ACFT. PRIOR TO PERFORMING ANOTHER TAKEOFF & LANDING, THE PROBLEM OF WINDSHEAR & WHAT PROPER ACTION TO TAKE WAS DISCUSSED. DURING THE NEXT LANDING WINDSHEAR WAS AGAIN ENCOUNTERED. THE STUDENT PULLED THE NOSE UP INTO A STALL CONFIGURATION, & AS THE SINK RATE INCREASED THE CFI GRABBED THE CONTROLS, ADDED 3/4 POWER & LOWERED THE NOSE. HOWEVER, THE ACFT LANDED HARD COLLAPSING THE NOSE & RIGHT LANDING GEAR. WIND WAS GUSTING 35 KTS.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 337 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 207 in the last 90 days; 237 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,046 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 1,976 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TTN Trenton NJ at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,504 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 20 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.