# NTSB NYC02LA085: Cessna 152, N4737L, Matawan, NJ, April 18, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 18, 2002, 14:20 local (18:20 UTC) - Place: Matawan, NJ - Coordinates: 40.409072, -74.230659 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4091&lon=-74.2307&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Teterboro, NJ - NTSB case key (mKey): 54552 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54552/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54552 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA085 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation, and excessive airspeed while landing. A factor was a tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing ## Analysis The student pilot was landing on runway 09, a 2,156-foot long, 50-foot wide asphalt runway. His approach was fast and with a tailwind. The airplane landed about half way down the runway, and the student pilot was unable to stop the airplane before it overran the runway. The student pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, and the reported wind at an airport about 22 nautical miles north of the accident site was variable at 5 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 18, 2002, about 1420 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N4737L, was substantially damaged while landing at Marlboro Airport (2N8), Matawan, New Jersey. The certificated student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the solo instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot stated that he departed 2N8 about 1245 for a local flight. About 1420, he returned to the airport, and landed on runway 09, a 2,156-foot long, 50-foot wide, asphalt runway. The student pilot added that he was "fast" on final approach, and the airplane touched down about half-way down the runway, with a tailwind. The student pilot was unable to stop the airplane before it overran the runway, and it came to rest inverted in a field adjacent to the airport. The student pilot further stated that although the wind was calm minutes before his approach, he landed with an approximate 10-knot tailwind. He reported a total flight experience of 65 hours, and did not report any mechanical difficulties with the airplane. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the upper surface of the wings, ribs, and the center fuselage. The reported wind at an airport approximately 22 miles north of the accident site, at 1451, was variable at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4737L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4737L), registered now, S/N 15284228 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15284228 - Airframe hours: 8278 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 2001, 121 hours before - Departed: 2N8, Matawan, NJ - Destination: 2N8, Matawan, NJ - Airport: 2N8, Marlboro Airport, runway 09, 2,156 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 50; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 65 total, 65 in this make and model, 65 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: EWR, 22 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 20020418018329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020418018329A), Apr 18, 2002: Cessna 152, Matawan, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) Airman landed aircraft with approx. 10 knots of tailwind component. Airman landed a/c approx. 10 KTS above recommended approach speed. Aircraft departed… ## Other investigations on N4737L (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI81DEC18](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81DEC18), Mar 15, 1981: Cessna 152 (N4737L), Pontiac, MI, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54552. 469 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 469 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417564&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.