# NTSB ERA09CA110: Cessna 172R, N178AF, Morristown, NJ, December 27, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 27, 2008, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Morristown, NJ - Coordinates: 40.799446, -74.414718 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7994&lon=-74.4147&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73152 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73152/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA110 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to execute a missed approach when insufficient runway remained for landing. Contributing to the accident were the low ceiling and visibility conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: low ceiling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 190 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 175 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The instructor and his pilot-rated student were conducting instrument work; reported weather included a vertical visibility of 200 feet and 1/4 mile visibility in fog. After the first instrument landing system approach with the student at the controls, the runway was not visually acquired at the decision height and a missed approach was performed. The instructor took the controls for the second approach and asked the student to monitor the radios and look for the runway environment. At 400 feet above ground level, the instructor saw the runway below him, but the airplane was "slightly high on the glideslope and a little fast..." He elected to attempt a landing, reducing the throttle to idle and adding full flaps. The airplane touched down long and the instructor was unable to stop the airplane on the remaining runway. The airplane collided with a snow bank, resulting in structural damage to the fuselage. ## Factual narrative The instructor and his pilot-rated student were conducting instrument work; reported weather included a vertical visibility of 200 feet and 1/4 mile visibility in fog. After the first instrument landing system approach with the student at the controls, the runway was not visually acquired at the decision height and a missed approach was performed. The instructor took the controls for the second approach and asked the student to monitor the radios and look for the runway environment. At 400 feet above ground level, the instructor saw the runway below him, but the airplane was "slightly high on the glideslope and a little fast..." He elected to attempt a landing, reducing the throttle to idle and adding full flaps. The airplane touched down long and the instructor was unable to stop the airplane on the remaining runway. The airplane collided with a snow bank, resulting in structural damage to the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N178AF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N178AF), registered now, S/N 17281177, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17281177 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 lbs thrust reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: American Flyers - Registered owner: Ameriflyers of Illinois, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 5, 2008 - Departed: SWF, Newburgh, NY - Destination: MMU, Morristown, NJ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MMU, Morristown Municipal, runway 23, 5,999 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 27; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 15, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 1,140 total, 1,084 in this make and model, 1,050 as pilot in command - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 0.25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 200 ft indefinitevv - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: MMU ## 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 20081227856019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081227856019A), Dec 27, 2008: Cessna 172R, Morristown, NJ, Substantial damage. On 12/27/08 at approximately 1540 EST, N178AF, a Cessna 172R on an IFR training flight over shot runway 23 at mmu after an ILS approach. The aircraft contacted… ## Other investigations on N178AF (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 GAA15CA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA179), Jun 6, 2015: Cessna 172R (N178AF), Addison, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing touchdown, resulting in a hard landing. 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.