Piper PA-28-140 and Piper PA-28-140 accident near Bedminster, New Jersey, July 18, 1985
On July 18, 1985 at about 7:25 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28-140 (N6139J) and Piper PA-28-140 (N4319F), were involved in the same accident near Bedminster, New Jersey (Somerset airport). No one was hurt; 3 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 18, 1985 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Bedminster, New Jersey · Somerset
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N6139J · registry record · serial 28-7625222
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N4319F · no longer on the register · serial 28-7725007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-140 final · quoted from the NTSB record
N4319F HEARD N6139J ANNOUNCE ITS POSITION IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN THROUGHOUT THE APPROACH AND LANDING. N4319F LANDED ON RUNWAY 30 AND WAS TAXIING BACK TO THE RAMP ON THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY. THE OCCUPANTS OF N4319F OBSERVED N6139J LAND ABOUT MIDWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY AND MAKE A LEFT TURN TOWARDS N4319F. THE PILOT OF N4319F APPLIED FULL POWER AND RIGHT RUDDER IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE COLLISION. N6319J ENCOUNTERED A CROSSWIND DURING THE FLARE AND LANDED WITH THE LEFT WHEEL OFF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT THEN STRUCK A RUNWAY LIGHT AND TURNED ABOUT 30 DEGREES TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER BUT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE OTHER AIRCRAFT. THE LEFT WINGS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT COLLIDED AND WERE DAMAGED.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-140 final · quoted from the NTSB record
N4319F HEARD NG138J ANNOUNCE ITS POSITION IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN THROUGHOUT THE APPROACH AND LANDING. N4319F LANDED ON RUNWAY 30 AND WAS TAXIING BACK TO THE RAMP ON THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY. THE OCCUPANT OF N4319F OBSERVED N6139J LAND ABOUT MIDWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY AND MADE A LEFT TURN TOWARDS N4319F. THE PILOT OF N4319F APPLIED FULL POWER AND RIGHT RUDDER IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE COLLISION. N6319J ENCOUNTERED A CROSSWIND DURING THE FLARE AND LANDED WITH THE LEFT WHEEL OFF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT THEN STRUCK A RUNWAY LIGHT AND TURNED ABOUT 30 DEGREES TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER BUT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE OTHER AIRCRAFT. THE LEFT WINGS ON BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE DAMAGED.
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 for the Piper PA-28-140 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 60 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,000 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,735 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 31.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28-140 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 57 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,101 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 8, 1985; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Medford NJ at 6:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,735 ft by 65 ft
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.
Other NTSB records under N6139J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.