Cessna 170 accident near Pittman, New Jersey, January 7, 1987
On January 7, 1987 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 170, registered N2528V, was destroyed in an accident near Pittman, New Jersey. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- January 7, 1987 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pittman, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170 · all 170s on the register
- Registration
- N2528V · no longer on the register · serial 18032
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT APPROX 15 MINS AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE IN A LEFT TURN, BOTH HE AND HIS PAX HEARD A LOUD SNAP. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY COLLAPSE OF THE LEFT RUDDER PEDAL AND A RIGHT ROLLING MOTION. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SPIRAL; JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT THE SPIRAL WAS CORRECTED. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NEAR LEVEL ATTITUDE. INSPECTION REVEALED THE RUDDER CABLE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THE CORROSION WAS NOT NOTED DURING THE ANNUAL INSPECTION 8 MONTHS EARLIER.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,179 hours in all; 454 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 26, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C145 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 24N Pitman NJ at 8:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
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.