# NTSB NYC03LA014: Cessna 172N, N4599D, Morristown, NJ, October 24, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 24, 2002, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Morristown, NJ - Coordinates: 40.799446, -74.414718 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7994&lon=-74.4147&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-25 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55943 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55943/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA014 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - tree(s) ## Analysis During her second attempt at a solo touch-and-go, after touchdown, the student added power for takeoff. The airplane veered to the right, and departed the right side of the runway. It then traveled over grass, an intersecting runway, and struck trees. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the student pilot report any. ## Factual narrative On October 24, 2002, about 1700 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N4599D, was substantially damaged during takeoff from Morristown Municipal Airport (MMU), Morristown, New Jersey. The certificated student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight instructor reported that he and the student pilot had completed four touch-and-go landings. The student pilot then completed one solo touch-and-go to runway 5; a 5,999-foot long, 150-foot wide, asphalt runway. During her second touch-and-go, after touchdown, the student pilot added power. The airplane then pulled to the right, and departed the right side of the runway. The airplane traveled over grass, an intersecting runway, and eventually struck trees before coming to rest upright. The student pilot reported that during the second solo touch-and-go, after adding power, the airplane veered to the right. The airplane departed the runway and struck trees. The student pilot had a total flight experience of approximately 48 hours, of which, about 47 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. Additionally, the student pilot reported about 1 hour of solo flight experience. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed damage to both wings. The inspector did not observe any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the student pilot report any. The reported winds at MMU, at 1645, were variable at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4599D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4599D-2005-11-21), registration cancelled 2005-11-21, S/N 17272311, built 1979 (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: 17272311 - Airframe hours: 8980 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Century Air - Registered owner: Sherman Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 2002, 81 hours before - Departed: MMU, Morristown, NJ - Destination: MMU - Airport: MMU, Morristown Municipal Airport, runway 5, 5,999 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 26; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 48 total, 47 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.38 inHg - Observed at: MMU ## 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 20021024032709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021024032709A), Oct 24, 2002: Cessna 172N, Morristown, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) At 1709 LCL, N4599D, a CE-172 landed on runway 05 at Morristown airport and went off the right side of the runway and into a tree line. This was the… ## Other investigations on N4599D (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 NYC04CA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA189), Aug 8, 2004: Cessna 172P (N4599D), Wilkes-Barre, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's improper flare and improper recover from a bounced landing. Factors in this accident were the crosswind condition and the partial failure of the airplane's transceiver, as… 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.