IAD05FA067

After departing on an instructional flight, the instructor and three passengers were fatally injured when the airplane impacted terrain while maneuvering along a beach. Radar data showed the accident flight at 300 feet and at a ground speed of 60 knots just prior to the accident. This was correlated by witness statements that the airplane was observed to be at a low altitude prior to descending in a nose down attitude and impacting the ground. No preimpact malfunctions of the airplane were discovered and the flaps were in the 30-degree position. A review of the accident flight's weight and balance information revealed that the flight was flown in an overweight condition. According to the manufacturer's information manual for the airplane, at the maximum certificated takeoff weight, an altitude loss during a stall recovery could be as much as 230 feet. At the 30-degree wing flap position, published stall speeds for the airplane ranged from 40 knots at 0 degrees of bank to 57 knots at 60 degrees of bank.

History of flight

On May 21, 2005, at 1332 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N778LP, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near Brooklyn, New York. The certificated flight instructor and three passengers were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed the Linden Airport (LDJ) Linden, New Jersey, about 1324. No flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the operator of the flight school, the passengers booked the flight as a "discovery flight," which the school would advertise on the Internet at a discounted rate, to attract prospective flight students.

Upon initial departure from LDJ, the flight instructor returned shortly thereafter, when one of the three female passengers felt ill and needed to disembark. He then had the airplane refueled, and a male passenger boarded. The airplane then departed towards Brooklyn, New York.

Radar data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showed a radar target, correlated to be the accident airplane, near LDJ. The target climbed to an altitude of approximately 500 feet msl while proceeding toward Coney Island at an average ground speed of 108 nautical miles per hour (knots), and below the class "B" airspace veil surrounding John F. Kennedy International Airport. The target disappeared from radar at 13:31:40 at 300 feet and a ground speed of 60 knots.

Approximately 42 witnesses were interviewed by the New York City Police Department, descriptions varied between witness statements as to the altitude, direction of flight, and velocity of the airplane; however, the preponderance of witness statements were that the airplane was maneuvering at low altitude along the beachfront at Coney Island. The airplane then banked to the left, descended in a nose down attitude, and impacted the ground.

The accident occurred during the hours of daylight. The wreckage was located at 40 degrees, 34.338 minutes north latitude, 73 degrees, 58.867 minutes west longitude.

Personnel information

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the flight instructor held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings including airplane single-engine-land, airplane-multiengine-land and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA first-class medical certificate was issued January 31, 2005. Examination of his logbook revealed that he had accrued 1,932 total hours of flight experience.

Aircraft information

The airplane was manufactured in 2001. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on March 25, 2005. At the time of the inspection, the airplane had accrued 1,566 total hours of operation.

Meteorological information

A weather observation taken about 8 minutes after the accident, at the John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York, New York, located approximately 7 nautical miles north of the accident site, recorded the winds as 190 degrees at 12 knots, visibility 10 miles, ceiling broken at 5,500 feet, temperature 63 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 46 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.85 inches of mercury.

Wreckage and impact information

The main wreckage came to rest on a beach approximately 150 feet south of the Coney Island boardwalk.

The wreckage was contained at the point of impact, and created a crater approximately 4 feet wide by 6 feet long. The depth of the crater varied between 6 to 18 inches with multiple small depressions.

All the major components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. The main wreckage was orientated on a heading of 150 degrees magnetic, was canted approximately 10 degrees to the left, and displayed varying degrees of impact damage. A crush line was visible on the right hand door, and was measured at a 50-degree angle, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cabin. The left wing displayed impact and compression damage along the leading edge, and the right wing had separated from the fuselage at the attach fitting. The aft fuselage section exhibited compression damage aft of the cabin on the right side, and was displaced approximately 8 degrees to the right of the cabin area. All flight control surfaces displayed differing degrees of damage. The flap actuator correlated to a 30-degree flap position. The elevator trim correlated to approximately neutral. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the elevator and rudder panels to the cabin, left aileron to the inboard portion of the left wing and cabin, and from the right aileron to the separation in the right wing where the control cables displayed signatures consistent with tension overload.

Examination of the cockpit revealed that the throttle control was in the idle position, and bent at a 45-degree angle to the left. The mixture control was in the full rich position, and the flap switch lever was in the "FULL," or 30-degree position at the mechanical stop. The fuel selector was set to both, and all seat belt and shoulder harness assemblies were secured. Both cabin door latch assemblies were in the closed and locked position, and exhibited witness marks at the door latch pins.

Examination of the propeller revealed that the propeller had remained attached to portions of the aft propeller bulkhead, and spacer; however, the crankshaft flange that the propeller assembly was attached to, was broken, exhibited a 45-degree shear lip along the fractured surface, and was separated from the engine. One propeller blade exhibited s-bending and leading edge gouging. The other blade was curled approximately 50 degrees in a rearward direction, with visible burnishing and chordwise scratching of the blade face.

Examination of the engine revealed impact damage to the fuel servo-mounting flange, fuel pump, left and right magneto-mounting flanges, the oil filter adapter and the nose portion of the crankcase. Continuity of the intake system, exhaust system, valve train, and crankshaft were confirmed. All spark plugs were removed for inspection, their electrodes were intact and light gray in color. All four cylinders were examined internally with a lighted borescope, and no anomalies were observed. The crankshaft was rotated through an accessory drive, and compression was noted on all four cylinders. The valve covers were removed, and oil was noted in all rocker boxes. The oil filter was examined, and no contamination was observed. Both magnetos were removed and rotated by hand, and spark was produced at all terminal leads.

An examination of the fuel system from the firewall forward was conducted. The fuel pump showed impact damage, but exhibited no preimpact failures. The fuel strainer bowl was broken, but the strainer screen was intact and showed no discoloration or debris on its face. The fuel servo throttle valve was nearly closed, and all fuel nozzles were free of debris. Fuel samples from the fuel servo and flow divider were examined. The samples were bright, clear, and absent of debris. The samples were consistent in color and smell with 100 low lead aviation gasoline, and when tested with water-finding paste, no water was detected.

Medical and pathological information

An Autopsy was performed on the pilot by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, City of New York.

Toxicological testing of the pilot was conducted at the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Weight and balance information

A review of the fuel provider's records revealed that the aircraft was filled with 32.8 gallons of fuel, prior to the accident flight. According to the fueler, the only fuel orders he had ever received from the flight school's pilots was to "top it off."

Using actual occupant weights provided by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, City of New York, the weight of a full fuel load, and the airplane empty weight as published in the a