# NTSB NYC07CA049: Cessna 172C, N8260X, Middletown, NY, December 14, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 14, 2006, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Middletown, NY
- Coordinates: 41.431945, -74.39167
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4319&lon=-74.3917&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 26, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Teterboro
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65032
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07CA049
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65032/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07CA049

## Probable cause

The pilot misjudging distance/altitude during the turn from base to final, which resulted in an undershoot and subsequent collision with trees. A factor was the haze.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

While turning from base to final for a landing at the destination airport, the Cessna 172C struck trees and was substantially damaged. The pilot stated that the combination of "hazy visibility," a crazed windshield, and sun glare resulted in his misjudgment of the descent rate and runway alignment. He also stated that he should have initiated a "go-around."

## Factual narrative

While turning from base to final for a landing at the destination airport, the Cessna 172C struck trees and was substantially damaged. The pilot stated that the combination of "hazy visibility," a crazed windshield, and sun glare resulted in his misjudgment of the descent rate and runway alignment. He also stated that he should have initiated a "go-around."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8260X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8260X-2007-09-24), registration cancelled 2007-09-24, S/N 17248760, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172C
- Registry model: [Cessna 172C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172c) (registry code 2072408) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17248760
- Airframe hours: 1543.18
- Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Group 6 Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2005
- Departed: 4N1, West Milford, NJ
- Destination: 06N, Middletown, NY
- Airport: 06N, Randall Airport, runway 26, 2,810 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 26,360 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 26,107 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observed at: MGJ, 8 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 20061214029249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061214029249A), Dec 14, 2006: Cessna 172C, Middletown, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) On December 14, 2006, at approximately 1600 EST, the subject aircraft was being repositioned from greenwood lake airport (4N1), west milford, NJ to…

## Other investigations on N8260X (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 FTW66F0474](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW66F0474), Jan 16, 1966: Cessna 172 (N8260X), Baton Rouge, LA, 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.