# NTSB ERA24LA048: Cessna 172N, N739MK, Blairstown, NJ, November 20, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 20, 2023, 10:17 local (15:17 UTC) - Place: Blairstown, NJ · On airport - Coordinates: 40.971133, -74.997504 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9711&lon=-74.9975&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - 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): 193426 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193426/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193426 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA048 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper control inputs and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a loss of control during an attempted go-around. ## 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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed 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: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); 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) - [Approach-VFR go-around: 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) ## Analysis The flight instructor and the student pilot were practicing a simulated loss of engine power landing procedure. When the airplane was over the runway, it began to “excessively” float and the instructor told the student to go-around. The student added full power and pulled back on the control yoke to initiate the go-around. The instructor said the airplane almost immediately banked toward the left of the runway. He immediately took over the controls and attempted to recover from the situation; however, he said that he was unable to overpower the student’s excessive input and the airplane impacted the ground resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N739MK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N739MK), registered now, S/N 17270649, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - 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: 17270649 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 9269 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sherman Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 3, 2023, 49 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 1N7, Blairstown, runway 7, 3,112 × 70 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 4, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 348 total, 348 in this make and model, 264 as pilot in command, 108 in the last 90 days, 89 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 22 total, 22 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 9 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: K12N, 12 nm away - METAR: METAR K12N 201454Z AUTO 03009G16KT 03/M06 A3036 ## 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 20231120018779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231120018779A), Nov 20, 2023: Cessna 172N, Blairstown, NJ, Substantial damage. The pilots failed go-around attempt resulted in the airplane banking to the left and striking the runway which subsequently led to the accident. The pilot… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193426. 36.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 36.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16458398&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 435 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16458289&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Pics-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.