# NTSB ERA22LA070: Cessna 172N, N8074E, Old Bridge, NJ, November 21, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 21, 2021, 16:44 local (21:44 UTC)
- Place: Old Bridge, NJ
- Coordinates: 40.329887, -74.346787 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3299&lon=-74.3468&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- 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): 104285
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA070
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104285/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104285
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA070

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s loss of control during a go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/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)

## Analysis

On the day of the accident, the student pilot performed three takeoffs and landings with his flight instructor before he was cleared by the instructor for solo pattern flight. A video recording showed that during his second solo landing, the airplane bounced, and then began a go-around. During the go-around the airplane pitched up sharply, stalled, turned toward the left and descended to the ground. The airplane impacted the left side of the runway, sustained substantial damage to the left wing and forward fuselage, and a post impact fire ensued. The flight instructor reported that there were no pre-accident anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8074E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8074E), registered now, S/N 17272130 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17272130
- Year built: 1978
- Airframe hours: 7663
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 8, 2021
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 3N6, Old Bridge, runway 24, 3,594 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 17; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 34 total, 34 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,100 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observed at: 3N6
- METAR: METAR K3N6 212142Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM BKN031 OVC038 12/05 A3015

## 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 20211121020539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211121020539A), Nov 21, 2021: Cessna 172N, Old Bridge, NJ, Destroyed. Student pilot on a solo flight in the pattern with instructor observing from the ground. Student bounced the landing that was resolved with a go around. Pitch…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104285. 95.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13008337&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%206120%20fillable%20form_latest_print_v2_Redacted%20(1)-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - information from flight instructor (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13008573&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-04%20%20MFR%20-%20Information%20from%20CFI_ERA22LA070-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13008357&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-01-%20photo%20array_ERA22LA070-Rel.pdf
- Video recording (courtesy old bridge airport) (item 4, MOV, 88.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13008494&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=08-01%20video%20recording-Rel.MOV

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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