Piper PA-22 accident near Montague, New Jersey, September 20, 1989
On September 20, 1989 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N2467A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montague, New Jersey. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN HIS INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND SOFT TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 1989 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Montague, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N2467A · no longer on the register · serial 22-804
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED GEORGETOWN, DELAWARE FOR MT POCONO, PENNSYLVANIA. HE LANDED AT CHESWOLD, DELAWARE, WHERE HE RECEIVED UPDATED WEATHER FROM MILLVILLE AUTOMATED FSS. THE PILOT DEPARTED AGAIN, BUT DIVERTED TO KUTZTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, LANDED AND REFUELED. HE ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT TO MT POCONO; HOWEVER, ADVERSE WEATHER PRECLUDED A LANDING AND HE CONTINUED EAST NORTHEAST. THE WEATHER CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE AND THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSE GEAR SETTLED INTO SOFT MUD AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER.
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: 174 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 111 as pilot in command; 68 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,921 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 26, 1989; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N31 Kutztown PA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: N63 Stroundsburg PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°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.