Beechcraft T-34B N1440L

Summary

On 17 March 1995 at about 00:15 local time, a Beechcraft T-34B registered N1440L was involved in an accident near Jackson, New Jersey, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 March 1995 at 00:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Jackson, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Naes Lakehurst, Nj (NEL)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Beechcraft T-34B

Registration

N1440L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lakehurst → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC95LA074

2 people were seriously injured.

the flight instructor's attempt to maintain visual reference with the ground, and his delayed remedial action to the dual student's actions, which resulted in an inadvertent tree strike. Factors were the lack of recent night experience for both pilots, the haze, and dark night conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE NIGHT TRAINING FLIGHT DEPARTED UNDER CONDITIONS OF A HAZY SKY, WITH A PRIVATE PILOT AND FLT INSTR ONBOARD. DUE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY, THE FLT INSTR DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. HE INSTRUCTED THE PVT PILOT TO STAY ABOUT 500 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AS THE AIRPLANE TURNED DOWNWIND OVER UNLIGHTED TERRAIN. THE PVT PILOT REPORTED THE FLT INSTR TOLD HIM HE WAS GAINING ALTITUDE AND HE, 'PUSHED THE NOSE OVER.' THE FLT INSTR THEN TOLD HIM, 'DON'T GO DOWN TOO FAST.' THE FLT INSTR TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AS IT PASSED THROUGH 200 FT AGL. IT STRUCK TREES ABOUT 100 FT HIGH, AND CAME TO REST ON THE GROUND, 600 FT LATER, UPRIGHT. NEITHER PILOT HAD FLOWN ANY NIGHT TIME IN THE PRECEDING 90 DAYS. THE FLT INSTR HAD LOGGED 3 HOURS OF INSTRUMENT TIME IN THE PRECEDING 90 DAYS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.