Beech B36TC accident near Caldwell, New Jersey, November 18, 1990
On November 18, 1990 at about 6:31 pm local time, a Beech B36TC, registered N38PK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Caldwell, New Jersey (Essex County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PREMATURE ROTATION AND AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS INCLUDE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 1990 · about 6:31 pm local time
- Place
- Caldwell, New Jersey · Essex County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B36TC · all B36TCs on the register
- Registration
- N38PK · registry record · serial EA 467
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKE OFF AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER ROTATION THE PILOT HAD DIFFICULTY IN CONTROLLING THE AIRPLANE. HE SAID HE RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR IN AN ATTEMPT TO GAIN SPEED. WITHESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, ROLL LEFT AND RIGHT, STALL, THEN DESCEND TO THE GROUND. THE FAA INSPECTOR FOUND NO DISCREPANCIES WITH THE ENGINE OR THE AIRFRAME.
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: 1,184 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,850 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-VB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mathiv Assy Aircraft
The flight
- Destination: HTO East Hampton NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 4,553 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.