Navion NA-1 accident near Allentown, Pennsylvania, December 29, 1988
On December 29, 1988 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Navion NA-1, registered N2518T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Allentown, Pennsylvania (Allentown airport). It was a business 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
- December 29, 1988 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Allentown, Pennsylvania · Allentown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Navion NA-1
- Registration
- N2518T · registry record · serial NAV-4-2518
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND LANDED BACK ON THE RUNWAY. THE LANDING WAS HARD AND THE RIGHT WING WAS DAMAGED. THE FAA INVESTIGATOR CHECKED THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM FOR POSSIBLE CONTAMINANTS AND WATER. NO WATER OR CONTAMINANTS WERE FOUND AND THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND RUN TO ABOUT ONE THIRD POWER. THE PILOT/MECHANIC HAD JUST PERFORMED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION AND WAS PERFORMING A MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT. THE PILOT/MECHANIC STATED HE HAD OPERATED THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES ON THE GROUND.
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: 415 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 356 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,015 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 15, 1988; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,315 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABE Allentown PA at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 7,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 16°F (-9°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.
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.