NYC87LA068

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · Princeton, NJ · January 25, 1987

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report

Date: January 25, 1987, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
Place: Princeton, NJ
Injuries: 1 uninjured
Damage: Substantial damage
Phase of flight: Landing
Aircraft: N4837PCessna 152
Weather: Visual (VMC) · Day
Status: Completed · report January 11, 1989
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19870125001049A
Case key: 30587

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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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.

Loss of control - in flightLanding - flare/touchdown

Flare - improperPilot in commandCause

Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

In flight collision with terrain/waterLanding - flare/touchdown

Terrain condition - snowbankFactor

Go-around - not performedPilot in commandFactor

Nose overLanding - flare/touchdown

Analysis

The student pilot leveled off at a higher than normal altitude during landing. He attempted to slow the descent rate by adding power. The aircraft drifted to the left and the pilot contemplated aborting the landing. Before he could initiate adding power, however, the left wheel caught in the snow and flipped the aircraft over.

Aircraft

Registration: N4837P
Reported as: Cessna 152
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 15284828
Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C, 108 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Registered owner: Raritan Valley Flying School
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Departed: 39N
Airport: 39N · Princeton, runway 28, 3,100 × 60 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role: Pilot
Age: 39
Certificate: Student
Medical: Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 55 total · 55 in this make and model · 5 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: Calm
Visibility: 15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 30 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19870125001049ACessna 152 · Princeton/Rocky, NJOff side (.4)the student pilot leveled off at a higher than normal altitude during landing. He attempted to slow the descent rate by adding power. The aircraft drifted to the left and the pilot contemplated aborting the landing. Before he could initiate…Jan 25, 1987 · N4837P · Substantial damage