Cessna 182 accident near Pittstown, New Jersey, April 28, 1985
On April 28, 1985 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N5685B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pittstown, New Jersey (Sky Manor airport). 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
- April 28, 1985 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pittstown, New Jersey · Sky Manor
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5685B · no longer on the register · serial 33685
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE PREFLIGHTED THE ACFT & DECIDED THERE WAS SUFFICIENT FUEL TO HAUL SKYDIVERS ON 2 MORE FLTS. ON THE 2ND FLT, HE HAD TO MAKE THREE PASSES INSTEAD OF ONE. DURING THE APCH TO THE ARPT, THE ENG LOST POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PLT TRIED TO REACH THE RWY, BUT LANDED SHORT ON PLOWED TERRAIN. THE WHEELS DUG INTO THE PLOWED TERRAIN, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE PLT HAD PLANNED A FUEL CONSUMPTION RATE OF 12.1 GAL/HR. HOWEVER, THE ACTUAL FUEL CONSUMPTION (AFTER INSTALLATION OF A NEW ENG) WAS 12.8 GAL/HR.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 691 hours in all; 305 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 580 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,482 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 1985; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 2,439 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 12:00 pm, 2 miles away
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.