Globe SWIFT GCIB accident near Pittstown, New Jersey, January 28, 1990
On January 28, 1990 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Globe SWIFT GCIB, registered N78156, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pittstown, New Jersey (Skymanor airport). It was a personal 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 PILOT FAILED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF AFTER LOSING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CROSSWIND, HIDDEN OBSTRUCTION IN HIGH VEGETATION, AND LOW TIME IN MODEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 28, 1990 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pittstown, New Jersey · Skymanor
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Globe SWIFT GCIB
- Registration
- N78156 · no longer on the register · serial 2156
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS TAKING OFF ON RUNWAY 25 IN A LEFT CROSSWIND WHEN IT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY INTO SOFT WET SOD. THE TAKEOFF ROLL CONTINUED AND SHORTLY AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLIDED WITH A KNOLL THAT WAS OBSCURED BY TALL GRASS AT A DISTANCE. THE CONVENTIONAL GEAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY BENT UNDER AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST ON THE MOUND OF DIRT. THE WIND WAS FROM 200 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS WITH PEAK GUST TO 15 KNOTS.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,500 hours in all; 8 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,710 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental C-125-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8B5 Barre MA at 4:45 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 25, 2,439 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10000 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:51 pm
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.