- Date
- February 17, 2014, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place
- Caldwell, NJ
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N426SPCessna 172S
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report April 1, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20140217002369A
- Case key
- 88818
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he intended to complete three full-stop landings at night, to meet currency requirements. During the first landing, the airplane bounced three times and veered left. The pilot applied right rudder and right aileron in an attempt to correct; however, the nosegear struck a snowbank off the left side of the runway. During the collision, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and the wind was reported as calm about the time of the accident. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he intended to complete three full-stop landings at night, to meet currency requirements. During the first landing, the airplane bounced three times and veered left. The pilot applied right rudder and right aileron in an attempt to correct; however, the nosegear struck a snowbank off the left side of the runway. During the collision, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and the wind was reported as calm about the time of the accident. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N426SP
- Reported as
- Cessna 172S
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172S8353
- Built
- 2000
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Century Air
- Registered owner
- Prn LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 24, 2013
- Departed
- CDW · Caldwell, NJ
- Destination
- CDW · Caldwell, NJ
- Airport
- CDW · Essex County Airport, runway 04, 4,552 × 80 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 17, 2013
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 343 total · 332 in this make and model · 250 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 27 °F, dew point 1 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.36 inHg
- Observed at
- CDW
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 18, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.