# NTSB NYC90FA041: Cessna 172N, N3353E, Washington Twp, NJ, December 26, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 25, 1989, 22:45 local (Dec 26, 1989, 03:45 UTC)
- Place: Washington Twp, NJ
- Location: 40.9883° N, 74.0636° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Washington Township, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9883&lon=-74.0636&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36520
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90FA041
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36520/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90FA041

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY PRE-FLIGHT PLAN AND EXECUTE THE VFR FLIGHT. FACTOR'S RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S INEXPERIENCE; NO VISUAL CUES (LIGHTS) DUE TO DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS; THE PILOT'S DISREGARD OF THE WEATHER BRIEFING.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - hazardous weather advisory - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - lack of recent experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, cruise
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 1000 FEET AND FLYING OVER A DARK WOODED AREA, THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO AVOID SOME REPORTED SNOW SHOWERS. THE PILOT HAD REQUESTED RADAR ADVISORIES THROUGH THE ARSA, BUT WAS NEVER PICKED UP ON RADAR. A WITNESS HEARD THE AIRPLANE FLY VERY LOW OVER HIS HOME, LOCATED ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE CRASH SITE. THE AIRPLANE HIT TREES AND THEN COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE PILOT HAD APPROXIMATELY 80 HOURS OF TOTAL FLYING TIME AND NEGLIGIBLE NIGHT FLIGHT TIME. THE PILOT WAS BRIEFED ABOUT SNOW AND ICING CONDITION FOR HIS INTENDED ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND ON 12/27/89 IN A WOODED AREA NORTH OF ATLANTIC CITY, NJ.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3353E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3353E-2015-04-30), registration cancelled 2015-04-30, S/N 17271514, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17271514
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Darryl Nitke, doing business as The United States Flying Club
- Departed: TEB, TETERBORO, NJ
- Destination: ORF, NORFOLK, VA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 80 total, 4 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 220° at 11 knots
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ACY, 20 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 19891225057559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891225057559A), Dec 25, 1989: Cessna 172N, Washington Twp, NJ, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Flew into trees en route at night. No ground lights. Snow showers.

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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