Investigator In Charge (IIC): Gretz, Robert
The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Lycoming Engines; Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Location: Middle Township, New Jersey
Accident Number: ERA22FA315
Date and Time: July 16, 2022, 09:35 Local
Registration: N3703M
Aircraft: Piper PA-12
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Banner tow
On July 16, 2022, about 0935 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N3703M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Middle Twp., New Jersey. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 banner-tow flight.
According to the operator, who witnessed the accident, the pilot was hired in late May 2022. The airplane was completely fueled prior to the accident flight. On the accident flight, the pilot departed runway 32 and flew a left traffic pattern to pick up the banner at the approach end of runway 14, which was normal procedure. The airplane descended toward the banner but missed the haul line during the pickup attempt. The airplane then climbed nose-high and stalled, spinning right and impacting the runway. Engine noise was consistent throughout the accident sequence.
The wreckage came to rest nose-down, oriented about a 320° magnetic heading, and no debris path was observed. The wreckage remained intact. Both wings exhibited leading edge damage and buckling with the left wing exhibiting more damage than the right. The ailerons remained attached to their respective wing. The empennage remained intact and canted right. Flight control continuity was confirmed from all flight control surfaces to the cockpit. Measurement of the horizontal stabilizer trim jackscrew corresponded to a mid-range position between neutral and full nose-up. The cockpit area was crushed, but the pilot’s 4-pt harness remained latched and was cut by rescue personnel.
The engine remained attached to the airframe with both propeller blades attached to the hub. One propeller blade was undamaged while the other exhibited s-bending and leading-edge gouging. The top spark plugs were removed from the engine. Their electrodes were intact and gray in color, except for the No. 4 spark plug, which was oil soaked. The rocker covers were removed, and oil was observed throughout the engine. Both magnetos were removed from the engine and sparked at all leads when rotated manually. When the propeller was rotated manually, crankshaft, camshaft, and valve train continuity were confirmed to the rear accessory section of the engine and thumb compression was attained on all cylinders. The carburetor butterfly valve was in the open position. The carburetor was then disassembled. Its floats and needle remained intact, and the fuel screen was absent of debris.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N3703M
Model/Series: PA-12
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: WWD,23 ft msl
Observation Time: 09:30 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 3 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C /22°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.13 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Middle Twp, NJ
Destination: Middle Twp, NJ
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 39.064843,-74.90856
Aircraft crashed in a field after takeoff.
Date: 16-JUL-22
Time: 13:36:00Z
Regis#: N3703M
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA12
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: FATAL
Total Fatal: 1
Flight Crew: 1 Fatal
Pax: 0
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: DESTROYED
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: TAKEOFF (TOF)
Operation: 91
City: GREEN CREEK
State: NEW JERSEY
Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation may contact them by email witness@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. You can also call the NTSB Response Operations Center at 844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290.
Thomas Reynold Gibson, 23, died on July 16, 2022.
Born in Washington Twp, NJ, he lived in Gloucester Twp, Medford Lakes, and Ocean City, NJ. Thomas graduated from Shawnee High School in 2017 and graduated from Marywood University in 2021. Thom worked at the Ocean City Airport and for Cape May Aerial banner tow. He was a commercial-rated pilot with his instrument rating and tail wheel endorsement. Thomas was accumulating hours toward achieving his (ATP) Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. Thomas is a Christian and was born again November 19, 2008. Thomas was very athletic and loved many sports and activities such as soccer, lacrosse, basketball, paintball, and golf. Aviation was his passion. His friends were his world, and Lauren Fritzsch was the love of his life.
Survivors include brother Harry Benjamin Gibson, parents Harry W. Gibson Jr and Jeanette Gibson, Grandmother Barbara Myers, Grandmom Ruth Stuart, Immediate Cousins Destinee Baori, Kristen Stuart, Jacob Stuart, Albert Barker, and Josh Stone. Lastly Aunt Tracy Barker and Uncle Chris Stuart.
A Celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, July 21st at Greate Bay Country Club, 901 Somers Point Mays Landing Road, Somers Point, NJ. Visitation is from 05:00 pm until the time of his service at 6:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Church of the Nazarene would be appreciaed by Thommy. https://northfieldnazarene.org
The late pilot, Thomas R. Gibson.
~
MIDDLE TOWNSHIP—A commercial pilot of a banner plan that was in flight over Cape May County, later identified as a graduate of Shawnee High School in Medford Township, was killed when the aircraft crashed there on July 16, according to the National Traffic Safety Board (NTSB) and an obituary for the young pilot.
The Piper PA-12 aircraft was “substantially damaged,” the NTSB said in a preliminary report when it was involved in an accident near Middle Township.
The operator told the NTSB, according to the report, that the pilot, later identified as 23-year-old Thomas R. Gibson, who has lived in Washington Township (Gloucester County), Medford Lakes Borough, and Ocean City, was hired in late May 2022.
The airplane, he reportedly told authorities, was “completely fueled prior” to the accident flight.
“On the accident flight, the pilot departed runway 32 and flew a left traffic pattern to pick up the banner at the approach end of runway 14, which was normal procedure,” the report said. “The airplane descended toward the banner but missed the haul line during the pickup attempt. The airplane then climbed nose-high and stalled, spinning right and impacting the runway. Engine noise was consistent throughout the accident sequence.
“The wreckage came to rest nose-down, oriented about a 320 degrees magnetic heading, and no debris path was observed. The wreckage remained intact. Both wings exhibited leading-edge damage and buckling with the left wing exhibiting more damage than the right. The ailerons remained attached to their respective wing. The empennage remained intact and canted right. Flight control continuity was confirmed from all flight control surfaces to the cockpit. Measurement of the horizontal stabilizer trim jackscrew corresponded to a mid-range position between neutral and full nose-up.”
However, according to the report, “the cockpit was crushed.” The pilot’s “4-pt harness,” it said, remained latched and was cut by rescue personnel. One propeller blade was undamaged, while the other was said to have exhibited “s-bending and leading-edge gouging.”
Visibility at the time of the crash was said to be 10 miles.
Gibson, according to an obituary prepared by The Godfrey Funeral Homes, graduated from Shawnee in 2017 and graduated from Marywood University in 2021. It noted he worked at the Ocean City Airport and for Cape May Aerial banner tow.
Described as “very athletic,” Gibson was a commercial-rated pilot that had obtained his instrument rating and tail-wheel endorsement. It was also noted that he was accumulating hours toward achieving his Airline Transport Pilot Certificate (ATP).
Thomas Gibson
The pilot of a small plane died Saturday morning after he crashed into a field near Paramount Air Airport in Cape May County, officials said.
Thomas Gibson, 22, of Ocean City, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a statement from the Middle Township Police Department. There were no passengers on board, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser crashed into the field at about 9:40 a.m. The airport is off of NJ-47 in the Green Creek section of Middle Township.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the National Transportation Safety Board, another federal government agency, will lead the investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
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