# NTSB BFO92FA069: Cessna 172P, N55110, Princeton, NJ, May 19, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 18, 1992, 21:38 local (May 19, 1992, 01:38 UTC)
- Place: Princeton, NJ
- Location: 40.3991° N, 74.6590° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at PRINCETON (39N), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3991&lon=-74.6590&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 21, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11726
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92FA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11726/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92FA069

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE OVER AN OBSTACLE.  CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE A TAILWIND, DARK NIGHT, AND PREMATURE RAISING OF THE FLAPS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, landing - aborted
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - raising of flaps - premature, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A 50 FOOT HIGH TREE AT NIGHT, 1200 FEET BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 28.  THE AIRPLANE WAS HEADED WESTBOUND.  THERE WERE NO KNOWN WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT.  THE PILOT OF ANOTHER AIRPLANE WAS TRYING TO LAND USING RUNWAY 28, BUT WAS TWICE UNSUCCESSFUL, WHICH SHE ATTRIBUTED TO A TAILWIND, SO SHE LANDED ON THE FIRST TRY USING RUNWAY 10. AFTER HER SECOND TRY TO LAND ON RUNWAY 28, SHE NOTICED ANOTHER AIRPLANE, ALSO DOING A GO AROUND AFTER AN UNSUCCESSFUL LANDING ATTEMPT ON RUNWAY 28. SHE RADIOED THE PILOT TO ADVISE HIM TO USE RUNWAY 10, AND HE REPLIED WITH AN UNCLEAR TRANSMISSION WHICH ABRUPTLY ENDED.  THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PILOT HAD CONDUCTED NIGHT FLIGHT AT THIS AIRPORT FOUR TIMES BEFORE. HE HAD FOUR HOURS OF TOTAL NIGHT FLIGHT TIME.  THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION AND THE FLAPS WERE EXTENDED FIVE DEGREES.  ACCORDING TO CESSNA, DURING A GO AROUND, THE FLAPS SHOULD BE REDUCED TO 10 DEGREES UNTIL OBSTACLES HAVE BEEN CLEARED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55110](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55110-1995-07-13), registration cancelled 1995-07-13, S/N 17275112 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275112
- Airframe hours: 3123
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Raritan Valley Flying School
- Registered owner: Raritan Valley Flying School
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 27, 1992, 2,286 hours before
- Departed: 39N
- Airport: 39N, Princeton, runway 28, 3,096 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 108 total, 43 in this make and model, 80 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 60° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TTN, 10 nm away

## 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 19920518015419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920518015419A), May 18, 1992: Cessna 172P, Princeton/Rocky, NJ, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Struck trees on go around from balked downwind landing. Dark night heavy rain in area.

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.