NYC08CA118

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172SP · Lincoln Park, NJ · March 2, 2008

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
March 2, 2008, 11:43 local (16:43 UTC)
Place
Lincoln Park, NJ
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N107MACessna 172SP
Defining event
Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 31, 2008
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Teterboro FSDO
FAA report
20080302013059A
Case key
67613

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 certificated flight instructor's delayed decision to go-around.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Info processing/decision: decision making/judgmentPersonnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilotCessna 172S: 41 casesAll aircraft: 3,100 casesProbable cause
Action: delayed actionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · PilotCessna 172S: 30 casesAll aircraft: 895 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: fence/fence postEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Not specifiedCessna 172S: 7 casesAll aircraft: 315 cases

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The certificated flight instructor (CFI), of the Cessna 172SP, stated that the purpose of the dual flight was local air work practice, followed by takeoff and landing practice. After one high approach that terminated in a go-around, then a successful landing, the student pilot departed and positioned the airplane at a higher altitude than normal on the final approach. The CFI took the controls and demonstrated a sideslip maneuver to the student. Once the airplane lost some altitude, the CFI "…turned over the controls to the student and asked him to land the airplane." The touchdown speed was higher than normal, so the CFI queried the student whether the power was reduced, then instructed him to apply aerodynamic braking. The airplane did not appear to be slowing, so the CFI attempted to go around. He applied power and pulled back on the yoke in an attempt to take off, then saw the airport perimeter fence approaching, and felt a "jolt". The left main landing gear impacted the airport perimeter fence off the departure end of runway 1, then the airplane impacted a guardrail, and came to rest inverted on an adjacent road. The tailcone separated from the fuselage just aft of the cargo compartment. Neither pilot was injured. The CFI reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane prior to the accident.

Factual narrative

According to the certificated flight instructor (CFI), of the Cessna 172SP, the purpose of the dual flight was local air work practice, followed by takeoff and landing practice. After one high approach that terminated in a go-around, then a successful landing, the student pilot departed and positioned the airplane at a higher altitude than normal on the final approach. The CFI took the controls and demonstrated a sideslip maneuver to the student. Once the airplane lost some altitude, the CFI "…turned over the controls to the student and asked him to land the airplane." The touchdown speed was higher than normal, so the CFI queried the student whether the power was reduced, then instructed him to apply aerodynamic braking. The airplane did not appear to be slowing, so the CFI attempted to go around. He applied power and pulled back on the yoke in an attempt to take off, then saw the airport perimeter fence approaching, and felt a "jolt". The left main landing gear impacted the airport perimeter fence off the departure end of runway 1, then the airplane impacted a guardrail, and came to rest inverted on an adjacent road. The tailcone separated from the fuselage just aft of the cargo compartment. Neither pilot was injured and the CFI reported they had no mechanical difficulties with the airplane prior to the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N107MA
Reported as
Cessna 172SP
Category
Airplane
Serial number
172S8604
Engine
Lycoming O&VO-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Aero Safety Training LTD
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
N07 · Lincoln Park, NJ
Destination
N07
Airport
N07 · Lincoln Park, runway 01, 2,942 × 40 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 · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
37
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
November 1, 2007
Seat
Right
Flight hours
490 total · 142 in this make and model · 23 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days
Role
Student pilot
Age
58
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 1, Unknown
Seat
Left
Flight hours
12 total · 12 in this make and model · 10 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
310° at 11 knots, gusting 14
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
37 °F, dew point 12 °F
Altimeter
30.27 inHg
Observed at
KCDW, 4 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.