Cessna 150K accident near Marlboro, New Jersey, December 28, 1985
On December 28, 1985 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150K, registered N5915J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marlboro, New Jersey (Marlboro airport). It was an instructional 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
- December 28, 1985 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Marlboro, New Jersey · Marlboro
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150K · all 150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N5915J · no longer on the register · serial A1500215
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED WHAT THE PLT DESCRIBED AS A STRONG GUST OF WIND ON LANDING. THE PLT STATED HE EXPERIENCED A WIND SHIFT OF APRX 45 DEGS. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN FAST AND DURING SUBSEQUENT BOUNCING THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE WINDS, ACCORDING TO THE PLT, WERE VARYING FROM 240 TO 290 DEGS AT 20 KTS WITH HIGHER GUSTS. THE PLT STATED HE SHOULD HAVE USED BETTER JUDGEMENT IN FLYING UNDER THE GIVEN CONDITIONS.
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
- Flight time: 68 hours in all; 68 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 14 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 15, 1985; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2BN Matawan NJ at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,200 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°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.
Other NTSB records under N5915J 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.