Piper PA-18-150 accident near Gloucester, New Jersey, November 26, 1987
On November 26, 1987 at about 7:06 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N1590R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gloucester, New Jersey. 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
- November 26, 1987 · about 7:06 pm local time
- Place
- Gloucester, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N1590R · no longer on the register · serial 18-7609002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED LEDDON'S FARM FOR AN ENGINE CHECK IN AN EXTENDED TRAFFIC PATTERN. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE SUFFERED A POWER REDUCTION FROM 2200 RPM TO ABOUT 1000 RPM. A SHORT PLOWED FARM FIELD WAS SELECTED FOR A FORCED LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT TURNED TO THE RIGHT, STALLED ATTEMPTING TO AVOID COLLISION WITH A FENCE AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. POST ACC INVEST REVEALED THAT THE PILOT HAD DEPARTED WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR POSITIONED ON THE RIGHT TANK WHICH WAS EMPTY.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,425 hours in all; 613 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 6,325 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,373 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 215° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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 N1590R 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.