Boeing PT-17 accident near Tranquility, New Jersey, September 7, 1991
On September 7, 1991 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Boeing PT-17, registered N3721C, was destroyed in an accident near Tranquility, New Jersey (Trinca airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHILE MANEUVERING TO LAND, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. THE LACK OF ALTITUDE FOR A RECOVERY FROM THE STALL WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 1991 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Tranquility, New Jersey · Trinca
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing PT-17 · all PT-17s on the register
- Registration
- N3721C · registry record · serial 75-3541
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE A SHALLOW RIGHT TURN, APPARENTLY IN PREPARATION FOR A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD. THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING AGAIN, AND THE PILOT INITIATED A LEFT TURN AS IF TO TURN BACK TOWARD THE RUNWAY. DURING THE TURN, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AGAIN. THE AIRCRAFT THEN ENTERED A STEEP DESCENT AND CRASHED. THE CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. AT THE AIRPORT WHERE N3721C HAD BEEN PARKED, SEVERAL PILOTS REPORTED INSECTS NESTS IN FUEL VENTS, CAUSING BLOCKAGE OF THESE OPENINGS.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 358 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 3.5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright W-670-6A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: 13N
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC91FA230.