# NTSB ERA23LA339: Cessna 172R, N172FW, Princeton, NJ, August 9, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 9, 2023, 09:15 local (13:15 UTC)
- Place: Princeton, NJ
- Coordinates: 40.399089, -74.659006 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3991&lon=-74.6590&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 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): 192888
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA339
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192888/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192888
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA339

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the prevailing wind conditions during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent collision with trees.

## 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: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot was practicing solo takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern. He successfully completed two takeoffs and landings. He then decided to attempt a soft-field technique takeoff. As the airplane began to lift off the ground, the pilot reported that an unexpected gust of wind from the northwest caught him off guard, and he lost control of the airplane. The airplane subsequently collided with trees, resulting in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N172FW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17280080
- Year built: 1997
- Airframe hours: 10250
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 7, 2023, 9 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 39N, Princeton, runway 28, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 43 total, 43 in this make and model, 7 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observed at: KTTN, 10 nm away
- METAR: METAR KTTN 091253Z 30008KT 10SM CLR 22/15 A2980 RMK AO2 SLP084 T02220150

## 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 20230809014929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230809014929A), Aug 9, 2023: Cessna 172R, Princeton, NJ, Substantial damage. Student pilot stated he was practicing take off and landings. After two normal take offs, the student practiced a soft field take-off, the first time he did so…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192888. 3.7 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=16338483&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20LA339_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16348522&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20FAA%20statement%20LA339-Rel.pdf
- Weather reports and records (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16348834&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA23LA339%20weather%20information-Rel.pdf
- Witness statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 784 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16348925&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20(Evan%20Van%20Gilson%209AUG23)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 709 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16397535&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos%20LA339-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.

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