Piper PA-46-350P accident near Bedminster, New Jersey, February 23, 1996
On February 23, 1996 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-46-350P, registered N9254X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bedminster, New Jersey (Somerset airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to perform a go-around, and his misjudged distance during the landing resulting in the overrun and the subsequent collision with the trees during the aborted landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 1996 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Bedminster, New Jersey · Somerset
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-350P · all PA-46-350Ps on the register
- Registration
- N9254X · no longer on the register · serial 4622189
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had received radar vectors for a straight in approach to runway 08. About 700 feet above mean sea level, he broke out of the clouds, saw the airport, and then circled to land on runway 30, which was 2,733 feet long and 65 feet wide. The pilot reported that he landed long, and about 200 feet from the runway end, he realized he would not stop on the remaining runway, so he aborted the landing. He was unable to get airborne, the airplane overran the runway, and impacted trees. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions. He stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had turned base farther out from the runway.
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: 1,482 hours in all; 830 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 1,402 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 268 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 20, 1996; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VRB Vero Beach FL at 3:00 pm
- Destination: N52
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 30, 2,733 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from MMU, 16 miles away
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 N9254X 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.