# NTSB NYC85LA117: Cessna 172N, N4680G, Vincentown, NJ, May 5, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 5, 1985, 11:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place: Vincentown, NJ
- Location: 39.9363° N, 74.7512° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Vincentown, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9363&lon=-74.7512&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35868
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85LA117
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35868/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85LA117

## 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
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - tree(s)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREE TOPS DURING A LNDG IN GUSTY WINDS. THE PLT SAID A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE RT WING DURING THE FLARE. AS THE ACFT VEERED TO THE LEFT THE PLT SAID HE CONSIDERED A GO-AROUND BUT THERE WAS NOT ROOM ENOUGH TO CLEAR THE TREES. THE LEFT WING HIT THE TREES AND THE ACFT FELL INTO THE TREES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4680G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4680G-1988-11-21), registration cancelled 1988-11-21, S/N 17273306 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17273306
- Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Albert C. Lewis
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 16, 1984, 0 hours before
- Airport: N73, Red Lion, runway 23, 2,900 × 45 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5 total, 5 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 19850505017129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850505017129A), May 5, 1985: Cessna STC172, Vincentown, NJ, Destroyed. Wind gust on flare. Veered off runway alignment and drifted into trees. Too much wind for pilots skill.

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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