Amateur-built HUMMEL BIRD accident near Lumberton, New Jersey, June 10, 1990
On June 10, 1990 at about 3:10 pm local time, a amateur-built HUMMEL BIRD, registered N51L, was destroyed in an accident near Lumberton, New Jersey (South Jersey Regional airport). It was a personal flight 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 RUDDER ATTACH BOLT, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL AND AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT TO THE GROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 10, 1990 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Lumberton, New Jersey · South Jersey Regional
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built HUMMEL BIRD HUMMEL BIR
- Registration
- N51L · registry record · serial NCC1701
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE PILOT MADE A NORMAL TAKEOFF. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT HAD CLIMBED TO ABOUT 700 FEET, THE VERTICAL STABILIZER SEPARATED. THE AIRCRAFT THEN WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND IMPACTED THE GROUND ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE AIRPORT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE RUDDER ATTACH BOLT HAD FAILED.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7MY NJ at 11:10 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 3,911 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from MIV
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.