# NTSB ERA25LA092: Cessna 172M, N9137H, Englishtown, NJ, December 14, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 14, 2024, 14:25 local (19:25 UTC)
- Place: Englishtown, NJ
- Coordinates: 40.326551, -74.351667 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3266&lon=-74.3517&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining events: [Taxi-to runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 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): 199514
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA092
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199514/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199514
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA092

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

The high wing airplane flight crew’s failure to maintain directional control while taxiing, which resulted in a collision with the stationary low wing airplane.

## 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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 123 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 123 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 59 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Taxi-to runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)
- [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

The student pilot of the high wing airplane was taxiing to the runway for takeoff while the pilot of the low wing airplane was holding short of the taxiway to allow the high wing airplane to pass. The student pilot in the high wing airplane reported applying both brakes to slow and make the turn to the runway, but the brakes did not respond as he had expected, which he verbalized to the flight instructor. Despite the flight instructor’s subsequent application of left brake and rudder control inputs, the airplane veered to the right and the high wing airplane’s right wing passed through the propeller arc of the low wing airplane resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The flight instructor onboard the high wing airplane stated that earlier during the taxi, the student pilot had reported that the high wing airplane’s left brake was noticeably “weaker” than the right. The flight instructor advised the student that the airplane typically required more left brake input relative to right brake input, after which the student continued to taxi without further incident. Postaccident examination of the high wing airplane’s braking system revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N9137H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9137H), registered now, S/N 17265966, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17265966
- Year built: 1976
- Airframe hours: 2711.5
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Pilots Flying School LLC
- Registered owner: Pilots Flying School LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 22, 2024
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 3N6, Old Bridge, runway 6, 3,594 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N8454H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8454H), registered now, S/N 28-8290050, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (181)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8290050
- Year built: 1981
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Pilots Flying School LLC
- Registered owner: Pilots Flying School LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 30, 2024
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor, aircraft N9137H; age 21; injuries: none; commercial, private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 11, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,475 total, 629 in this make and model, 1,313 as pilot in command, 167 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot, aircraft N9137H; age 25; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point
- Student pilot, aircraft N8454H; age 47; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 127 total, 57 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 30.89 inHg
- Observed at: BLM, 13 nm away
- METAR: KBLM 141856Z AUTO 01007KT 10SM CLR 01/M11 A3089 RMK AO2 SLP462 T00061106 FZRANO

## 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 20241214021502A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241214021502A), Dec 14, 2024: Cessna 172M, Old Bridge, NJ, Substantial damage. On 12/14/2024 aircraft one with an instructor/ PIC and a student on board began taxiing from the fuel station to runway 6 for takeoff. While taxiing, airplane…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 17, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199514. 4.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 Piper (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18234996&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form%20Chopra_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 Cessna (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18235824&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form%20Walter%20W.%20Young%20III_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� maintenance inspection times N9137H (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18322974&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Insepction%20Times%20N9137H-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18322779&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector's statement, brake exam (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18305449&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N9137H%20Inspection%20Statement_Redacted-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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