# NTSB NYC94LA112: Cessna 172, N6979X, Tinton Falls, NJ, July 1, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 1, 1994, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Tinton Falls, NJ - Location: 40.2663° N, 74.0961° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tinton Falls, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2663&lon=-74.0961&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38780 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38780/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA112 ## Probable cause THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - roadway/highway ## Analysis THE BANNER-TOWING AIRPLANE WAS CRUISING AT 1000 FEET, WHEN, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE ENGINE 'BEGAN TO SPUTTER.' THE PILOT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS, TURNED ON THE FUEL BOOST PUMP, PULLED THE CARBURETOR HEAT AND INCREASED THE MIXTURE. THE ENGINE SMOOTHED OUT MOMENTARILY AND THEN QUIT COMPLETELY. THE PILOT JETTISONED THE BANNER AND PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING ONTO A HIGHWAY. HE SWERVED THE AIRPLANE TO AVOID VEHICLES AND IMPACTED A CURB, SHEARING THE NOSEWHEEL AND DAMAGING THE FIREWALL. THE FAA EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AND OBSERVED FUEL IN THE TANKS. THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND RAN WITHOUT ANY MALFUNCTIONS. ## Factual narrative On Friday, July 1, 1994, at 1515 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N6979X, registered to Airborne Billboards, Inc., and piloted by David J. Kelly, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing on a highway in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane departed the Allaire Airport, Farmingdale, New Jersey at 1400, with approximately 36 gallons of fuel, for a local banner towing flight. The pilot stated: At approximately 3:15PM at 1000 feet heading for Allaire my engine began to sputter. I switched [fuel tanks] from "both" position to the "left" position. Engine continued to sputter. Then switched from the "left" position to the "right" position. The engine continued to sputter. I then switched back to "both." The sputtering continued. I then followed the...emergency procedures. Boost pump on, enrich the mixture, carburetor heat on, then pumped the throttle once. The engine came back to life, RPM increased then it died....[I] released the banner and looked for a place to land. I spotted a field and maneuvered toward it....I lost altitude. To reach the field was impossible. My only alternative was route 66...I landed on the highway.... In order to avoid approaching automobiles, the pilot swerved the airplane on the highway, and the nosewheel impacted a curb, which sheared the gear and buckled the firewall. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, Larry Lee, examined the airplane at the accident site on the day of the day of the accident. He observed fuel in both tanks. On July 18, 1994, Federal Aviation Administration Airwothiness Inspector John K. Ho conducted an examination of the engine. He stated in his report: ...the aircraft was rigged for a static run...The [engine] started normally and was operated at 1500 rpm, manifold pressure at 16 inches...Engine magneto check was performed and engine responded accordingly. Engine was not operated above 1500 rpm due...to the unstable condition of the aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6979X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6979X), registered now, S/N 17247879, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172b) (registry code 2072406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17247879 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A2F 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Airborne Billboards, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 15, 1993 - Departed: BLM, ALLAIRE, NJ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 564 total, 19 in this make and model, 502 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 3 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MIV, 45 nm away 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.