# NTSB ERA21LA055: Cessna 172, N23NJ, Manville, NJ, November 24, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 24, 2020, 16:07 local (21:07 UTC) - Place: Manville, NJ · AC struck trees on final approach - Coordinates: 40.524444, -74.598306 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5244&lon=-74.5983&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102339 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102339/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102339 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA055 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glidepath while on approach to the runway, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in the airplane colliding with a tree on final approach. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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 final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis As the flight instructor and the private pilot approached the runway for landing, the flight instructor told the pilot the airplane was getting too low and that he needed to add power “more than once.” When the pilot did not add sufficient power to correct the descent, she attempted to add it herself, but it was too late, and the airplane’s left wing stuck the tree. The airplane then struck the ground short of the runway, continued forward until it reached the runway lip, and then nosed over. The airplane’s left wing and the fuselage were substantially damaged. The operator reported there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N23NJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N23NJ-2022-03-04), registration cancelled 2022-03-04, S/N 17273230, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (N) - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273230 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 6055 - Engines: Lycoming O360-A4M 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Civil Air Patrol - Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 1, 2019, 77.2 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 47N, Central Jersey Regional Airport, runway 7, 3,507 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 73; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 18, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,452 total, 371 in this make and model - Pilot; age 70; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 30, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,102 total, 220 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.33 inHg - Observed at: KSMQ, 7 nm away - METAR: KSMQ 242053Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 08/M03 A3033 RMK AO2 SLP272 T00831033 53006 ## 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 20201124018429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201124018429A), Nov 24, 2020: Cessna 172N, Manville, NJ, Substantial damage. The flight was a civil air patrol instructional flight. The accident occurred during the first traffic pattern right after the initial take off. The pilot… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 16, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102339. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11698317&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB summary of email - flight instructor (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11697177&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Summary%20of%20Email%20-%20CFI-Rel.pdf - NTSB summary of email - pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11696985&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Summary%20of%20Email%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 832 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11697756&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.