# NTSB NYC03LA112: Cessna 172G, N3985L, Ocean City, NJ, May 20, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 20, 2003, 14:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Ocean City, NJ - Coordinates: 39.26361, -74.607498 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2636&lon=-74.6075&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-17 - NTSB case key (mKey): 57030 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57030/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA112 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an aborted landing. A factor was a crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - aborted - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - aborted - object - sign - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - aborted - terrain condition - swampy ## Analysis While landing on runway 06, the airplane encountered turbulence. The pilot attempted to abort the landing; however, the airplane veered right, and traveled off the right side of the runway. The airplane then struck a runway sign and berm, before coming to rest in a swamp at the departure end of the runway. The reported wind near the accident site, about the same time as the accident, was from 140 degrees at 11 knots. ## Factual narrative On May 20, 2003, about 1445 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172G, N3985L, was substantially damaged during an aborted landing at Ocean City Municipal Airport (26N), Ocean City, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured, and a passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Camden County Airport (19N), Berlin, New Jersey, about 1400. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that he was landing on runway 06, a 2,973 foot-long, 60 foot-wide, asphalt runway. During touchdown, the airplane encountered severe turbulence, and the pilot attempted to abort the landing. However, the airplane did not have sufficient airspeed, and traveled off the end of the runway. The airplane subsequently came to rest in a swamp near the end of runway. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane departed the right side of the runway. The airplane then struck a runway sign and berm, before it came to rest in the swamp. Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector revealed damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the nose gear. The inspector did not observe any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. The reported wind at an airport located about 11 miles north of Ocean City, at 1454, was from 140 degrees at 11 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3985L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3985L-2012-11-14), registration cancelled 2012-11-14, S/N 17254154, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172G - Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17254154 - Airframe hours: 3083 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Karl Turkot - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 31, 2002, 60 hours before - Departed: 19N, Berlin, NJ - Destination: 26N, Ocean City, NJ - Airport: 26N, Ocean City Municipal Airport, runway 6, 2,973 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 14, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total, 2,200 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: ACY, 13 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 20030520017519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030520017519A), May 20, 2003: Cessna 172G, Ocean City, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 20, 2003 at about 1445 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172G, N3985L was substantially damaged while landing at Ocean City Municipal Airport (26N),… ## Other investigations on N3985L (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 NYC70F0011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC70F0011), Jun 8, 1969: Cessna 172G (N3985L), Montauk, NY, substantial damage 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.