# NTSB IAD02LA038: Cessna 172P, N9847L, Ocean City, NJ, March 24, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 24, 2002, 13:50 local (18:50 UTC) - Place: Ocean City, NJ - Coordinates: 40.298995, -74.521682 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2990&lon=-74.5217&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 54395 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD02LA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54395/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54395 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD02LA038 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind and his failure to maintain directional control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis Two Civil Air Patrol pilots departed on the first leg of a cross country proficiency flight. The pilot was seated in the right front seat and the second pilot sat in the left front seat. The second pilot flew the first leg of the trip, but transferred control of the airplane to the pilot after she lost sight of the airport while in the traffic pattern at the destination airport. The pilot assumed control of the airplane, exited the pattern, and reestablished a normal right downwind pattern entry. He then transferred control of the airplane back to the second pilot. Upon turning final, the airplane was high. The pilot again took control of the airplane, flew the approach, and landed on runway 24. When the airplane touched down, it swerved off the right side of the runway and went into a marsh. The pilot said the crosswind component was more severe than what was reported, and was between 45 and 60 degrees off the runway heading. The pilot also said that he did not correct for the crosswind and the perspective that he had from flying in the right seat contributed to the accident. Wind reported at an airport 12 miles away were from 220 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 20 knots. ## Factual narrative On March 24, 2002, at 1350 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172P, N9847L, operated by the Civil Air Patrol, was substantially damaged during landing on runway 24 at Ocean City Municipal Airport (26N), Ocean City, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot in command and the second pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated at Doylestown Airport, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, at 1200. No flight plan was filed for the cross country proficiency flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, the second pilot flew the first leg of the trip and sat in the front left seat, while he sat in the front right seat. Prior to landing, wind information was obtained from the Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), Atlantic City, New Jersey, which was about 12 miles from the destination airport. The weather information included wind from 220 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 20 knots. Both pilots reviewed the weather information, and decided to land at Ocean City as planned. The pilot stated that the second pilot lost sight of the airport while in the traffic pattern at the destination airport, and transferred control of the airplane over to him. He then assumed control of the airplane, exited the pattern, and reestablished a normal right downwind pattern entry. The pilot then transferred control of the airplane back to the second pilot. Upon turning final, the airplane was above the glide slope. The pilot again took control of the airplane, flew the approach, and landed on runway 24. When the airplane touched down, it swerved off the right side of the runway and went into a marsh. He said the crosswind component was more severe than what was reported, and was between 45 and 60 degrees off the runway heading. The pilot also said that he struggled flying the airplane due to light wind and turbulence, and that he did not correct for the crosswind. Additionally, he said the cause of the accident was a combination of the crosswind and the different perspective he had from flying the airplane from the right seat. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed an on-scene examination of the airplane. According to an inspector, the airplane sustained damage to the propeller and cowling. Additionally, the right wing tip area was bent upwards, and the wing was displaced aft. Damage was also noted at the wing root and to the right flap. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. He reported a total of 279 flight hours, of which 106 hours were in make and model. He also reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. The second pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. She reported a total of 132 flight hours, of which 7 hours were in make and model. Weather reported at Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), Atlantic City, New Jersey, at 1354, included wind from 230 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 23 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, and clear skies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9847L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9847L), registered now, S/N 17276635, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17276635 - Airframe hours: 4144.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-360A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 20, 2002, 20.8 hours before - Departed: DYL, DOYLESTOWN, PA - Destination: 26N, OCEAN CITY, NJ - Airport: 26N, Ocean City Municipal, runway 240, 2,973 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 18, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 279 total, 106 in this make and model, 240 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 1, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 132 total, 7 in this make and model, 23 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 11 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: ACY, 12 nm away ## 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 20020324018779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020324018779A), Mar 24, 2002: Cessna 172P, Ocean City, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 24, 2002, at 1350 EST, a Cessna CE-172-P, N9847L, operated by the civil air patrol, was substantially damaged during a landing on runway 24 at… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54395. 568 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (item 1, .PDF, 438 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395443&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%2F2-Redacted.PDF - Summaries of Interview (item 2, .PDF, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395445&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Summaries%20of%20Interview-Redacted.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.