# NTSB ERA09LA379: Cessna 172M, N64178, Princeton, NJ, July 4, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 4, 2009, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Princeton, NJ - Coordinates: 40.392776, -74.655281 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3928&lon=-74.6553&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74193 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA379 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74193/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74193 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA379 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that he was in the traffic pattern practicing touch-and-go landings. As he turned base, the engine went to idle, and he made an emergency landing in a field. The carburetor heat was in use at the time of engine failure. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the flight control system components, engine, and system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The current ambient temperature was 75 degrees Fahrenheit, with a dew point of 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Review of the carburetor icing probability chart revealed that serious carburetor icing could occur at glide power. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 2009, about 1045 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N64178, collided with the ground during an emergency landing in Princeton, New Jersey. The student pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The solo instructional flight was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. The flight had originated shortly before the accident and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The student pilot stated that he prepared to remain in the traffic pattern for a touch-and-go landing. After a preflight inspection of the airplane, he taxied to the run-up area. He conducted all preflight checks and a run-up of the engine, and all engine indications were normal. He then taxied to the active runway and departed to stay in the closed traffic pattern. As the airplane climbed, he turned crosswind, downwind, and went through the landing checklist. He said that as he turned to base and reduced engine power, the engine went to idle. He immediately added full power with no response from the engine. Subsequently, he turned the airplane towards the runway and the power came back up briefly. The power decreased again and the pilot made an emergency landing in a field. The student pilot stated that prior to take off the carburetor heat check indicated a normal drop in rpm. He also reported that the carburetor heat was in use when the engine loss power. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane descended through trees into a field. The airframe and flight control system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. Examination of the fuel system revealed that the fuel tanks were full, and the fuel selector was in the "both" position. Further examination of the fuel system revealed no water or debris was found in the fuel system. A cursory examination of the engine and system components by the FAA inspector revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The current ambient temperature was 75 degrees Fahrenheit, with a dew point of 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Review of the carburetor icing probability chart revealed that serious icing could occur at glide power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64178](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N64178-2010-05-21), registration cancelled 2010-05-21, S/N 17265067, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17265067 - Airframe hours: 5774 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Raitan Valley Flying School - Registered owner: Raitan Valley Flying School - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 2009, 13 hours before - Departed: 39N, Princeton, NJ - Destination: 39N, Princeton, NJ - Airport: 39N, Princeton Airport, runway 28, 3,499 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; student; seat: left; flight hours: 30 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 9 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: TTN ## 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 20090704009939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090704009939A), Jul 4, 2009: Cessna 172M, Princeton/Rock, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot turned base for runway 28 at Princeton Airport. He reduced the power for landing and then the engine lost power significantly. After 5-6 seconds… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 28, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74193. 94 KB in all. - Reports from Federal Agencies-FAA statement (item 1, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316930&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies-FAA%20statement-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 11 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316931&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 3, .PDF, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316932&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-icing probability chart (item 4, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320324&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-icing%20probability%20chart-Master.PDF 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.