# NTSB NYC89LA061: Navion NA-1, N2518T, Allentown, PA, December 29, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 29, 1988, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Allentown, PA
- Coordinates: 40.590038, -75.469703 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5900&lon=-75.4697&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 4, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36360
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89LA061
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36360/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA061

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - powerplant - undetermined (cause)
- Hard landing, takeoff
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND LANDED BACK ON THE RUNWAY. THE LANDING WAS HARD AND THE RIGHT WING WAS DAMAGED. THE FAA INVESTIGATOR CHECKED THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM FOR POSSIBLE CONTAMINANTS AND WATER. NO WATER OR CONTAMINANTS WERE FOUND AND THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND RUN TO ABOUT ONE THIRD POWER. THE PILOT/MECHANIC HAD JUST PERFORMED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION AND WAS PERFORMING A MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT. THE PILOT/MECHANIC STATED HE HAD OPERATED THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES ON THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2518T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2518T), registered now, S/N NAV-4-2518, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NAVION NA-1
- Registry model: [Navion NAVION H](https://openairdocs.org/model/navion-navion-h) (registry code 6150122) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: NAV-4-2518
- Airframe hours: 1015
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520B 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Julius Janosek, doing business as Same
- Registered owner: Julius Janasek
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 15, 1988, 2 hours before
- Departed: ABE, ALLENTOWN, PA
- Airport: ABE, Allentown, runway 24, 7,600 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 415 total, 2 in this make and model, 356 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19881229057179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881229057179A), Dec 29, 1988: Tmpson NAVIONH, Allentown, PA, Substantial damage. Reported engine failed on takeoff. Landed hard on runway damaging a wing. No engine defects on post accident test.

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.
