Amateur-built CHALLENGER II accident near East Moriches, New York, May 12, 1990
On May 12, 1990 at about 7:34 pm local time, a amateur-built CHALLENGER II, registered UNREG, was destroyed in an accident near East Moriches, New York (Lufker airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE UNLICENSED PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL AND COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF FLIGHT TRAINING, EXPERIENCE, AND QUALIFICATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 1990 · about 7:34 pm local time
- Place
- East Moriches, New York · Lufker · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CHALLENGER II CHALLENGER
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE QUAD CITY CHALLENGER II, AN UNREGISTERED AIRCRAFT THAT WAS BUILT AND OWNED BY THE PILOT, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND DURING FINAL APPROACH TO LUFKER'S AIRPORT IN VFR WEATHER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED, AND THE UNLICENSED PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE OWNER/PILOT WAS OBSERVED EARLIER THAT DAY COMPLETING FINAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PLANE. AN EYEWITNESS, WHO WAS A PILOT AND DISTRIBUTOR OF THE AIRCRAFT (WHICH WAS SOLD IN KIT FORM TO HOMEBUILDERS), OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT TAXIING BEFORE TAKEOFF. HE SAW THE AIRCRAFT TAKE OFF AND CLIMB TO ABOUT 2000 FEET, THEN HEAD SOUTH. THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED FOR LANDING ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER. THE EYEWITNESS OBSERVED IT ON A GO-AROUND AFTER AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO LAND. THE AIRCRAFT REENTERED THE PATTERN AND TURNED ONTO FINAL APPROACH. AT ABOUT 150 FEET ON FINAL APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED NOSE DOWN AND CRASHED. ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS, THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING AT A HIGH POWER SETTING, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED DOWN & CRASHED.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: 4NY7 NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from FOK
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 UNREG 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.