Cessna 337B accident near Warren Township, New Jersey, August 25, 1997
On August 25, 1997 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 337B, registered N2442S, was destroyed in an accident near Warren Township, New Jersey. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's loss of control in flight for undetermined reasons and the subsequent collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1997 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Warren Township, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 337B · all 337Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2442S · no longer on the register · serial 33-0742
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot took off from the Newark International Airport and departed a VFR corridor to the west. Air Traffic Control (ATC) records revealed initial services were provided by Newark Airport ground control and by the tower. Further ATC service from approach control was offered, but the pilot declined the service. At 1024, radar service was terminated, however, radar facilities continued to track the airplane. Radar data showed the airplane climbed to 1,800 feet mean sea level (MSL) and continued at 1,800 feet MSL for approximately 38 seconds in a westerly direction. The last radar plot at 1,800 feet was at 1028:26. At 1028:31, radar data indicated N2442S had descended to 1,100 feet MSL; indicating an 8,400 feet-per-minute rate of descent. No further radar plots were recorded. The airplane impacted wooded terrain behind a house in a residential area in a 60 degree nose down attitude. Witnesses stated the engines were running 'loud' and 'perfectly well'. Examination of the wreckage revealed no pre-impact anomalies.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,797 hours in all; 2,922 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 13, 1997; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: EWR Newark NJ at 2:21 pm
- Destination: 39N Princeton NJ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from EWR, 18 miles away
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.