Beech J35 accident near Pittstown, New Jersey, March 2, 1997
On March 2, 1997 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Beech J35, registered N88AA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pittstown, New Jersey (Sky Manor airport). It was an instructional 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
the pilot's placing the fuel selector in the improper position causing fuel starvation and a loss of engine power. The loss of engine power resulted in a forced landing on the runway during an aborted landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 1997 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pittstown, New Jersey · Sky Manor
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech J35 · all J35s on the register
- Registration
- N88AA · no longer on the register · serial D5458
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while preparing the airplane for landing, he placed the fuel selector to the auxiliary position. During climb-out following an aborted landing, the engine lost power as the landing gear retracted. The airplane landed back on the runway and came to rest 50 feet from the departure end. The pilot stated, 'The Bonanza Manual states not to use auxiliaries for take-off as there is a possibility they could unport.' According to the limitations section of the Beechcraft Pilot's Operating Handbook for the J35 Bonanza, 'Use auxiliary fuel in level flight only and do not use for take off or landing.'
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 821 hours in all; 520 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 715 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,235 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 1996; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-CIB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MMU Morristown NJ at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,439 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from ABE, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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 N88AA 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.