# Accident 20100403031249A: Cessna 172E, West Milford, NJ, April 3, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 3, 2010, 11:59 local time
- Place: West Milford, NJ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.1003° N, 74.3700° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1003&lon=-74.3700&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5528T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5528T-2013-05-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172E (registry code 2072412, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172E
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,293 total, 12 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA10FA202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10FA202) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100403031249A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT IMPACTED TERRAIN A FEW MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF FROM GREENWOOD LAKE AIRPORT (4N1).  THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS LOCATED IN A WOODED AREA APPROXIMATELY 1.9 MILES SOUTH- SOUTHWEST OF THE THRESHOLD OF 4N1 RUNWAY 6.  THE MAIN WRECKAGE CONSISTED OF THE ENTIRE AIRPLANE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE TWO WINGTIPS AND A FEW PLASTIC TRIM AND WINDOW FRAGMENTS. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED IN AN RIGHT WING DOWN ATTITUDE.  SEVERAL FRESHLY- BROKEN TREE LIMBS WERE ON TOP OF THE AIRPLANE AND ON THE GROUND.  THE PRIVATE PILOT/ CO- OWNER WAS FATALLY INJURED, AND THE STUDENT PILOT/ CO-OWNER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.  THE STUDENT PILOT WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT SEAT, AND THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS FOUND IN THE RIGHT SEAT.  THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH SHOULDER HARNESSES.  NO POST ACCIDENT FIRE.  NO FUEL SMELL AND NO FUEL RESIDUE WERE DETECTED ON SITE DURING THE INVESTIGATION.THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS CRUSHED, AND DID NOT CONTAIN ANY FUEL. THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS INTACT, AND DID NOT CONTAIN ANY FUEL.  THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS SET TO "BOTH ON", THE IGNITION AND MASTER SWITCHES WERE SET TO "OFF", AND THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE FLAPS WERE RETRACTED.  VALID AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE WAS LOCATED IN THE AIRCRAFT.  NO FAA REGISTRATION AND/OR TEMPORARY REGISTRATION COULD BE LOCATED IN THE AIRCRAFT.  TWO WITNESSES LOCATED ABOUT 800 FEET FROM THE ACCIDENT SAW THE AIRPLANE FLY OVER THEIR HOUSE AND NEITHER ONE OF THEM HEARD ANY ENGINE SOUND, OR OBSERVED THE PROPELLER.  REVIEW OF ATC DATA DID NOT REVEAL ANY COMMUNICATION OR RADAR INFORMATION.  THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS INDICATED THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON JANUARY 4, 2005.THE ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS THE LAST RECORD IN BOTH, THE AIRCRAFT AND THE ENGINE LOG BOOKS. NO FURTHER ENTRIES AFTER JANUARY 4, 2005.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (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 ERA10FA202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10FA202), Apr 3, 2010: Cessna 172E (N5528T), West Milford, NJ, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The complete loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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