Cessna C337 accident near Manville, New Jersey, September 8, 1990
On September 8, 1990 at about 11:40 am local time, a Cessna C337, registered N2654S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manville, New Jersey (Kupper 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
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SECURE HIS SEAT WHICH SLIPPED BACK DURING THE TAKE OFF RUN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1990 · about 11:40 am local time
- Place
- Manville, New Jersey · Kupper
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C337
- Registration
- N2654S · no longer on the register · serial 337 0954
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF AND AT ROTATION, THE SEAT SLIPPED BACK. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK TERRAIN. WHEN EXAMINED BY THE FAA, THE SEAT WAS FOUND TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SEAT AD AND THE SITUATION COULD ONLY BE DUPLICATED WHEN THE SEAT WAS PLACED BETWEEN LOCKS.
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: 2,418 hours in all; 713 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 2,418 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,099 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: HZL Hazelton PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,300 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.