Cessna 305A accident near Colts Neck, New Jersey, May 29, 1988
On May 29, 1988 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Cessna 305A, registered N5202G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colts Neck, New Jersey. It was an other work-use 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
LOSS OF POWER DUE OT VAPOR LOCK OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE AND AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING AND COLLISION WITH AN OBJECT.
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 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Colts Neck, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 305A · all 305As on the register
- Registration
- N5202G · no longer on the register · serial 22433
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER PICKING UP THE BANNER TO BE TOWED, ENG RPM BEGAN TO DROP. HE SWITCHED TANKS AND DROPPED THE BANNER BUT ALTITUDE STILL COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED. A LANDING WAS SET UP AND THE FLAPS SET AT 45 DEGREES. TOUCHDOWN WAS IN A LAND FILL AND DURING LANDING ROLL OUT, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A 10' HIGH CHAIN LINK FENCE. AIRCRAFT HAD STC FOR AUTO FUEL AND AUTO FUEL WAS USED. TEMPERATURE WAS 92 DEGREES AND THE OPERATOR SAID THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED VAPOR LOCK WITH SOME OF HIS OTHER AIRCRAFT THAT DAY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,598 hours in all; 496 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 2,843 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,820 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 1988; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Colts Neck NJ at 5:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°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.
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.