# NTSB NYC85LA180: Piper PA-28-140, N6139J, Bedminster, NJ, July 18, 1985 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 1985, 15:25 local (19:25 UTC) - Place: Bedminster, NJ - Location: 40.6743° N, 74.6605° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bedminster, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6743&lon=-74.6605&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 35918 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85LA180 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35918/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85LA180 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - runway light (contributing factor) - run on landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - run on landing - uncontrolled, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - aircraft moving on ground (contributing factor) - directional control - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - run on landing - uncontrolled, pilot in command - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - runway light (contributing factor) - run on landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - run on landing - uncontrolled, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - aircraft moving on ground (contributing factor) - directional control - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - run on landing - uncontrolled, pilot in command ## Analysis (aircraft 2) N4319F HEARD NG138J ANNOUNCE ITS POSITION IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN THROUGHOUT THE APPROACH AND LANDING. N4319F LANDED ON RUNWAY 30 AND WAS TAXIING BACK TO THE RAMP ON THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY. THE OCCUPANT OF N4319F OBSERVED N6139J LAND ABOUT MIDWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY AND MADE A LEFT TURN TOWARDS N4319F. THE PILOT OF N4319F APPLIED FULL POWER AND RIGHT RUDDER IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE COLLISION. N6319J ENCOUNTERED A CROSSWIND DURING THE FLARE AND LANDED WITH THE LEFT WHEEL OFF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT THEN STRUCK A RUNWAY LIGHT AND TURNED ABOUT 30 DEGREES TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER BUT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE OTHER AIRCRAFT. THE LEFT WINGS ON BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE DAMAGED. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) N4319F HEARD N6139J ANNOUNCE ITS POSITION IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN THROUGHOUT THE APPROACH AND LANDING. N4319F LANDED ON RUNWAY 30 AND WAS TAXIING BACK TO THE RAMP ON THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY. THE OCCUPANTS OF N4319F OBSERVED N6139J LAND ABOUT MIDWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY AND MAKE A LEFT TURN TOWARDS N4319F. THE PILOT OF N4319F APPLIED FULL POWER AND RIGHT RUDDER IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE COLLISION. N6319J ENCOUNTERED A CROSSWIND DURING THE FLARE AND LANDED WITH THE LEFT WHEEL OFF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT THEN STRUCK A RUNWAY LIGHT AND TURNED ABOUT 30 DEGREES TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER BUT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE OTHER AIRCRAFT. THE LEFT WINGS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT COLLIDED AND WERE DAMAGED. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N6139J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6139J-2013-04-26), registration cancelled 2013-04-26, S/N 28-7625222, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7625222 - Airframe hours: 7000 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Somerset Air Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Airport: N52, Somerset, runway 30, 2,735 × 65 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N4319F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4319F-2020-05-01), registration cancelled 2020-05-01, S/N 28-7725007, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7725007 - Airframe hours: 3101 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Somerset Air Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 8, 1985, 10 hours before - Departed: MEDFORD, NJ - Airport: N52, Somerset, runway 30, 2,735 × 65 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N6139J; age 60; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 60 total, 60 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N4319F; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 100 total, 100 in this make and model, 57 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F - Altimeter: 31.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19850718067531A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850718067531A), Jul 18, 1985: Piper PA28140, Bedminster, NJ, Substantial damage. Landed with wheel off runway. Struck runway light. Veered into N4319F which was on parallel taxiway. Wing damage. - [Accident 19850718067532A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850718067532A), Jul 18, 1985: Piper PA28140, Bedminster, NJ, Substantial damage. While taxiing on parallel was unable to avoid collision with out of control landing roll N6139J. Wing damage. ## Other investigations on N6139J (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB NYC04LA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA176), Jul 24, 2004: Piper PA-28-140 (N6139J), Somerville, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in an attempted takeoff with contaminated fuel, and a subsequent forced landing. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.