Cessna C-172 accident near Matawan, New Jersey, April 28, 1990
On April 28, 1990 at about 1:45 am local time, a Cessna C-172, registered N3242L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Matawan, New Jersey (Marlboro airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT FACTOR IN THAT THE PILOT LANDED LONG AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE A/C ON THE REMAINING R/W.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 28, 1990 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Matawan, New Jersey · Marlboro
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-172
- Registration
- N3242L · no longer on the register · serial 17256142
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN TO MARLBORO AIRPORT. AFTER IDENTIFYING THE AIRPORT, THE IFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS CANCELLED. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 1100 FEET DOWN THE R/W. AT THIS TIME THE PILOT SAW RED LIGHTS AND REALIZED THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT AND IT RAN OFF THE END, DOWN A SHORT EMBANKMENT AND INTO A SOFT FIELD WHERE THE NOSE WHEEL DUG IN AND BROKE OFF AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED ONTO ITS BACK.
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: instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 202 hours in all; 81 in this make and model; 95 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 121 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BED Bedford MA at 11:20 pm
- Destination: 2N8 Matawa NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 2,170 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.