Beech 19A accident near Buena, New Jersey, October 27, 1987
On October 27, 1987 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Beech 19A, registered N5082T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buena, New Jersey. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of electrical power for undetermined reasons, which necessitated a precautionary landing. Factors were rain, clouds, dark night, and the pole. This report was modified on February 9, 2005.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 1987 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Buena, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 19A · all 19As on the register
- Registration
- N5082T · registry record · serial MB-435
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Beech model 19 took off in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) with the owner/operator and a flight instructor onboard. A few minutes after takeoff the aircraft experienced a loss of electrical power. The alternator circuit breaker popped, the flight instructor reset it and it popped again. It was not reset. Because of the IMC and the rapid loss of electrical power, a precautionary off airport landing on a road was made. The aircraft received substantial damage upon striking a pole. The battery was found with a specific gravity of zero; the alternator worked when ground checked; and the alternator circuit breaker was found in the open position. The reason that the alternator circuit breaker tripped was not determined. This report was modified on February 9, 2005.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,736 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 1,736 as pilot in command
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,060 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1987; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MIV Millville NJ at 11:32 pm
- Destination: N14 Lumberton NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 100° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from ACY, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.