Cessna C305A accident near Oceanport, New Jersey, August 4, 1984
On August 4, 1984 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Cessna C305A, registered N73ED, was destroyed in an accident near Oceanport, New Jersey. It was an other work-use 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
- August 4, 1984 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Oceanport, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C305A
- Registration
- N73ED · no longer on the register · serial 21483
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT WAS INVOLVED IN BANNER TOW PICK-UP. ON ENGAGING TOW, PLT HAD EXECUTED FULL POWER PULL-UP TO ABOUT 150 FT AGL WHEN POWER LOSS OCCURRED. PLT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING ON SANDY TERRAIN. FIRE BROKE OUT ON LNDG ROLL. PLT EVACUATED ACFT SUCCESSFULLY BUT ACFT WAS DESTROYED BY GROUND FIRE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A BROKEN FITTING AT THE FUEL PUMP DISCHARGE PORT CAUSED FUEL STARVATION. FIRE IGNITION OCCURRED FROM FUEL SPILLAGE ONTO HOT MANIFOLD ON LANDING TOUCHDOWN.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,042 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1,711 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 1984; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-11 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: N61 Colts Neck NJ at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.