Amateur-built PT-13 and Piper J-3 accident near Readington, New Jersey, July 31, 1994
On July 31, 1994 at about 6:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built PT-13 (N2313) and Piper J-3 (N7308H), were involved in the same accident near Readington, New Jersey (Solberg-Hunterdon Airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE TAXIING.
THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1994 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Readington, New Jersey · Solberg-Hunterdon Airport
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built PT-13
- Registration
- N2313 · no longer on the register · serial 75-7041
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper J-3 · all J-3s on the register
- Registration
- N7308H · registry record · serial 20569
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built PT-13 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STEARMAN WAS TAXIING ONTO THE RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF, AND THE PIPER J-3 WAS EXITING THE RUNWAY AFTER LANDING AND BACK TAXIING ON THE RUNWAY. NEITHER PILOT SAW THE OTHER AIRPLANE. THE PROPELLER OF THE STEARMAN IMPACTED THE RIGHT WING OF THE PIPER. THE COLLISION OCCURRED DURING AN AIRSHOW, AND BOTH PILOTS WERE CONDUCTING SIGHTSEEING FLIGHTS AND PERFORMING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. THE AIRPORT HAD NO CONTROL TOWER.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper J-3 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STEARMAN WAS TAXIING ONTO THE RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF, AND THE PIPER J-3 WAS EXITING THE RUNWAY AFTER LANDING AND BACK TAXIING ON THE RUNWAY. NEITHER PILOT SAW THE OTHER AIRPLANE. THE PROPELLER OF THE STEARMAN IMPACTED THE RIGHT WING OF THE PIPER. THE COLLISION OCCURRED DURING AN AIRSHOW, AND BOTH PILOTS WERE CONDUCTING SIGHTSEEING FLIGHTS AND PERFORMING MULTIPLE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. THE AIRPORT HAD NO CONTROL TOWER.
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 for the amateur-built PT-13 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,861 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming R-680-13 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper J-3 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 10,916 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 9,500 as pilot in command; 6,236 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,870 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 5, 1994; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-75-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.
Other NTSB records under N2313 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.