Amateur-built VJ-22 accident near Kingston, New York, May 29, 1988
On May 29, 1988 at about 10:15 pm local time, a amateur-built VJ-22, registered N59262, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kingston, New York (Kingston-Ulster airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- May 29, 1988 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Kingston, New York · Kingston-Ulster · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VJ-22
- Registration
- N59262 · registry record · serial 72
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT SWERVED OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY DURING LANDING ROLL ON THE FIRST FLIGHT BY THE NEW OWNER. THE HOMEBUILT AMPHIBIAN HAD BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC, WHO SIGNED OFF AN ANNUAL INSPECTION FOR THE ENGINE BUT NOTED THAT THE OWNER DID NOT WANT AN ACFT ANNUAL INSPECTION AT THAT TIME. THE ON-SCENE INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE FAA DISCOVERED NO DISCREPANCIES IN THE TAIL WHEEL, BUT ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO LOOKED AT THE ASSEMBLY ONE AND A HALF MONTHS LATER FOUND EXCESSIVE WEAR, YIELDING POOR STEERING ABILITY. A SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION BY THE SAFETY BOARD'S ENGINEERING STAFF SUBSTANTIATED THAT FINDING. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD TROUBLE MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING TAKEOFF. THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK DID NOT INDICATE EXPERIENCE IN TAIL WHEEL AIRCRAFT WITHIN THE PRECEDING THIRTEEN YEARS.
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: 479 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 26, 1988; 0 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2B2 Newburyport MA
- Destination: 20N Kingston NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,250 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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 N59262 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.