# NTSB BFO92LA066: Cessna 172, N54860, Caldwell, NJ, May 16, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 16, 1992, 16:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place: Caldwell, NJ
- Location: 40.8752° N, 74.2814° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ESSEX COUNTY (CDW), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8752&lon=-74.2814&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11790
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92LA066
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11790/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92LA066

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IFR OPERATION.  CONTRIBUTING WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT INSTRUMENT FLIGHT TIME.

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - weather condition - rain
  - weather condition - fog
  - aircraft control - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - missed approach - not performed, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - ravine (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL THAT HE WAS HAVING CONTROL PROBLEMS SHORTLY AFTER HE DEPARTED ON THE IFR FLIGHT; HE REQUESTED TO RETURN TO CDW.  THE PILOT WAS VECTORED FOR THE LOCALIZER APPROACH TO RUNWAY 22; HOWEVER DURING THE APPROACH THE FLIGHT DEVIATED LEFT OF THE LOCALIZER COURSE.  WHEN HE SIGHTED THE RUNWAY, IT WAS OFF HIS RIGHT SIDE, AND ABOUT 600 TO 700 FEET BELOW.  HE BANKED STEEPLY RIGHT, LOWERED FLAPS 10 DEGREES AND SIDESLIPPED THE AIRPLANE TO LOSE ALTITUDE.  THE PILOT TOUCHED DOWN, OVERRAN THE RUNWAY, AND COLLIDED WITH A RAVINE.  WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT THE LAST 200 FEET OF THE RUNWAY. ACCORDING TO THE LOGBOOK, THE PILOT HAD OBTAINED AN INSTRUMENT RATING MORE THAN SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.  HE HAD NOT LOGGED ANY ACTUAL INSTRUMENT FLIGHT TIME SINCE THEN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54860](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54860-2013-04-18), registration cancelled 2013-04-18, S/N 17275070, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275070
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mac Dan Aviation
- Registered owner: That'S My Hon, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 9, 1992, 70 hours before
- Departed: CDW, CALDWELL, NJ
- Destination: HPN, WHITE PLAINS, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CDW, Caldwell, runway 22, 4,553 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 491.6 total, 200.1 in this make and model, 326 as pilot in command, 12.3 in the last 90 days, 8.5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TEB, 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 19920516015189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920516015189A), May 16, 1992: Cessna 172P, Caldwell, NJ, Destroyed. Advised ATC control problem climbout. Made LOC. Broke out high left of runway. Landed last 200FT. First IFR 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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