Cessna P206B accident near Piscataway, New Jersey, May 30, 1999
On May 30, 1999 at about 9:42 pm local time, a Cessna P206B, registered N4724F, was destroyed in an accident near Piscataway, New Jersey (Morristown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
was a power loss for undetermined reason(s) while operating over unsuitable terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1999 · about 9:42 pm local time
- Place
- Piscataway, New Jersey · Morristown
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P206B · all P206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4724F · no longer on the register · serial P206-0324
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Cessna 206 was on a shallow cruise descent, when the engine lost power while operating over a residential area. An onboard witness reported the pilot was able to restart the engine twice, and after each restart the engine ran for a few seconds and quit again. During the forced landing, the airplane struck trees and the engine/firewall/instrument panel separated from the remainder of the airplane. The fuel lines separated, and several of the passengers were burned. The remainder of the fuel system was intact. Fuel was found in both wing tanks, and in all lines forward of the firewall. When the engine was placed in a test cell it performed satisfactorily. The day was warm with an outside air temperature of about 90 F, and a dewpoint of 52 F. Radar data revealed the airspeed was constant about 125 knots, and as the airplane descended through 1,500 feet, the airspeed decreased to a low of about 63 knots. Just prior to loss of radar contact, the airspeed had increased back to about 100 knots.
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: 663 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 481 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,841 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 5, 1998; 91 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-A12B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: WWD Cape May NJ at 9:00 pm
- Destination: MMU Morristown NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from MMU, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.