Navion H accident near Readington, New Jersey, May 19, 1990
On May 19, 1990 at about 8:09 pm local time, a Navion H, registered N2502T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Readington, New Jersey (Solberg Hunterdon airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM FLYING AIRSPEED WHICH LED TO AN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S DECISION TO LAND WITH A TAILWIND, AND HIS FAILURE TO MONITOR HIS AIRSPEED ON FINAL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 1990 · about 8:09 pm local time
- Place
- Readington, New Jersey · Solberg Hunterdon
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Navion H
- Registration
- N2502T · registry record · serial 2502
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TURNED FINAL IN STRONG TAIL WIND CONDITIONS AND WITH GEAR AND FLAPS EXTENDED. THE AIRPLANE LANDED 1/4 MILE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT SAID HE LOST POWER, HOWEVER THE FAA REPORTED THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO GET TOO SLOW AND DEVELOP A SINK RATE FROM WHICH RECOVERY WAS NOT POSSIBLE. WHEN THE AIRPLANE HIT THE GROUND IT SLID 20 FEET.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: New Kenton VA at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,425 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.