# NTSB NYC88DHM01: Rutgers Agriplane, N54472, Freehold, NJ, July 3, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: July 3, 1988, 07:20 local (11:20 UTC)
- Place: Freehold, NJ
- Location: 40.2602° N, 74.2759° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Freehold, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2602&lon=-74.2759&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 10, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35982
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88DHM01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35982/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88DHM01

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spiral - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS WORKING FOR A FIRM THAT WAS DEVELOPING THE EXPERIMENTAL, LIGHT WEIGHT, CROP DUSTER IN A JOINT VENTURE WITH ANOTHER FIRM.  AN ACDNT OCCURRED AS HE WAS OPERATING THE ACFT AT THE LOCATION OF ONE OF THE FIRMS.  THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, 'I WAS JUST FLYING, DOING SOME TURNS. DURING MY FLIGHT I FELT MY LEFT WING GO DOWN. I TRIED TO CORRECT IT USING PROPER PROCEDURES AND I WASN'T ABLE TO. I WENT INTO A LEFT TURN SPIRAL DIVE . . . AND CRASHED.  A WITNESS RPRTD HE 'GLANCED' AT THE 'ULTRALIGHT' BEFORE IT CRASHED. ACCORDING TO HIM, THE ACFT ENTERED A STEEP DSCNT BEFORE THE 'WING TIP HIT THE GROUND,'  THEN THE ACFT ROLLED OVER.  ALSO, HE SAID THE PLANE APPEARED TO BE IN A TURN AT THE TIME.  THE PLT RPRTD THAT HE HAD FLOWN THE ACFT ABOUT 9 TIMES BEFORE THE ACDNT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54472](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54472-2013-07-15), registration cancelled 2013-07-15, S/N SAR 0113 XA, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RUTGERS AGRIPLANE
- Registry model: [Farm Hopper AGRIPLANE](https://openairdocs.org/model/farm-hopper-agriplane) (registry code 05612YW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Ultralight, amateur-built
- Serial number: SAR0113XA
- Airframe hours: 1
- Engines: ROTAX 532 64 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Farm Hopper, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 27, 1988, 2 hours before
- Departed: NONE, FREEHOLD, NJ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 1,569 total, 10 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880703025139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880703025139A), Jul 3, 1988: Freehold, NJ, Substantial damage. Used improper control inputs. Lost control and spiraled to ground impact. Experimental test flight.

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.

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