Cessna 305A accident near Colts Neck, New Jersey, June 18, 1988
On June 18, 1988 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Cessna 305A, registered N14418, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colts Neck, New Jersey (Colts Neck airport). 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
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
- June 18, 1988 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Colts Neck, New Jersey · Colts Neck
- 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
- N14418 · registry record · serial 22688
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A BANNER PICK UP ATTEMPT, THE TOW ROPE BECAME AFFIXED TO THE MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE BANNER AND LANDED WITH IT STILL ATTACHED. UPON LANDING ROLL OUT, THE AIRCRAFT'S TAIL ROSE ABRUPTLY AND THE PROPELLER DUG INTO THE TURF. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO ROLL ON ITS NOSE AND RIGHT WING TIP AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 6,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,842 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 14, 1988; 21 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: N61 Colts Neck NJ
- Runway 7, 2,560 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.