- Date
- July 28, 2005, 16:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place
- Caldwell, NJ
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N98730Cessna 172P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 30, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20050728026859A
- Case key
- 62076
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. A factor was a partial loss of engine power, as reported by the pilot, for undetermined reasons.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The student pilot was "too high" and "too fast" during final approach to the runway, and initiated a go-around. As he applied full power, he noticed that the noise of the engine did not seem to accelerate, and the engine rpm began to decrease. He then prepared for a forced landing to the grass beyond the departure end of the runway. During the landing, the airplane "hit hard" on the right main landing gear. Examination of the engine revealed no mechanical deficiencies, and the student pilot reported 45 hours of total flight experience, all of which were in the accident airplane make and model.
Factual narrative
On July 28, 2005, at 1620 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N98730, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at the Essex County Airport (CDW), Caldwell, New Jersey. The certificated student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed, for the local solo instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the student pilot, he was "too high" and "too fast" during final approach to the runway, and he initiated a go-around near the second intersecting taxiway. As he applied full power, he noticed that the noise of the engine did not seem to accelerate, and the engine rpm began to decrease. The pilot then prepared for a forced landing to the grass beyond the departure end of the runway. During the landing, the airplane "hit hard" on the right main landing gear.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane after the accident. According to the inspector, substantial damage was observed to the firewall of the airplane, and both propeller blades displayed S-bending and chordwise scratching. Manual rotation of the engine revealed "good" compression at all the cylinders. A check of the engine timing revealed no anomalies, and the magnetos were examined and produced spark at all leads. The spark plugs, ignition system, and fuel lines were examined and no deficiencies were noted. A sample of fuel taken from the carburetor bowl was free of contamination, and a functional test of the accelerator pump, revealed no mechanical anomalies.
The airplane was "topped off" with fuel prior to the accident flight, and the total duration of the accident flight was approximately 0.2 hours. Additionally, the flaps were observed in the retracted position.
The student pilot reported 45 hours of total flight experience, all of which were in the accident airplane make and model.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N98730
- Reported as
- Cessna 172P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17276340
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Mac Dan Aviation
- Registered owner
- MD Aeronautical Corp
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed
- CDW · Caldwell, NJ
- Destination
- CDW
- Airport
- CDW · Essex County Airport, runway 22, 4,553 × 80 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 18
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 45 total · 45 in this make and model · 1 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.02 inHg
- Observed at
- CDW
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N98730 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.