# NTSB NYC83FA091: Cessna 172H, N2574L, Liberty Corner, NJ, April 4, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 3, 1983, 19:20 local (Apr 4, 1983, 00:20 UTC)
- Place: Liberty Corner, NJ
- Location: 40.7171° N, 74.5048° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from ESSEX COUNTY (CDW), within about 5 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7171&lon=-74.5048&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35038
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC83FA091
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35038/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83FA091

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - object - tree(s)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - high terrain
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - dark night (contributing factor)

## Analysis

INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLT AND PASSENGER ARRIVED AT THE AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 1820 EST, REQUESTED A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE AND WHEN THAT CLEARANCE COULD NOT BE APPROVED REQUESTED AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN. ATTEMPTS TO ACTIVATE THE IFR FLIGHT PLAN WERE UNSUCCESSUFUL DUE TO COMMUNICATION LINE PROBLEMS. THE PLT SUBSEQUENTLY DECIDED NOT TO FILE THE FLIGHT PLAN AND STATED THAT BASED ON FORECASTS OF IMPROVING CONDITIONS TO THE WEST AND VISIBILITIES OF THREE TO FIVE MILES FROMTHE TOWER SHE PLANNED TO PROCEED VFR FOLLOWING THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TO THE SOUTH AND THEN TO THE WEST. THE PLT STATED SHE FLEW BELOW THE CLOUD BASES, WHICH SHE ESTIMATED WERE AT 800 TO 900 FEET. PRIOR TO REACHING INTERSTATE 22 AND WHILE IN STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLIGHT THE ACFT UNEXPECTEDLY IMPACTED TREES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2574L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2574L-1983-06-03), registration cancelled 1983-06-03, S/N 17255774, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H
- Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17255774
- Airframe hours: 1656
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300D6 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Leon And Betty Grosky
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1983, 13 hours before
- Departed: CDW, CALDWELL, NJ
- Destination: 42N, MYERSTOWN, PA
- Airport: CDW, Essex Co.

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,660 total, 1,449 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 80° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft broken
- Observed at: MMU, 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 19830403015949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830403015949A), Apr 3, 1983: Cessna 172H, Liberty Corner, NJ, Destroyed. Departed VFR into area of low ceilings fog and rain. Struck trees on rising terrain. Altimeter set incorrectly.

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.

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