Piper PA-12 accident near Green Creek, New Jersey, August 5, 1992
On August 5, 1992 at about 3:26 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N4280M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Green Creek, New Jersey. It was an other work-use 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 PILOT DIVERTED HIS ATTENTION FROM FLYING THE AIRPLANE AND DID NOT MAINTAIN A VISUAL LOOKOUT, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 1992 · about 3:26 pm local time
- Place
- Green Creek, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N4280M · registry record · serial 4982-21
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A LOW PASS FLY BY PRIOR TO PICKING UP A BANNER, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DROPPING A WRITTEN MESSAGE TO THE GROUND PERSONNEL. AFTER DROPPING THE MESSAGE THE PILOT LOOKED BACK TO SEE WHERE THE MESSAGE LANDED AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES ALONG HIS FLIGHT PATH.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,125 hours in all; 241 in this make and model; 320 in the last 90 days; 105 in the last 30 days; 1,024 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,816 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 1992; 683 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Paramount Air Service INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.