# NTSB NYC94LA151: Cessna 172RG, N9686B, Pittstown, NJ, August 6, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 1994, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Pittstown, NJ - Location: 40.5820° N, 74.9591° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pittstown, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5820&lon=-74.9591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38812 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38812/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA151 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S PREMATURE LIFT OFF AND FAILURE TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING TAKEOFF FROM ALEXANDRIA AIRPORT ON RUNWAY 8, WHICH IS 2550 FEET LONG. THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS ON TAKEOFF. HE SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO ESTABLISH A CLIMB AND SETTLED INTO TREES. TWO FAA INSPECTORS OBSERVED THE TAKEOFF AND REPORTED THE AIRPLANE, '...APPEARED TO LIFT OFF EARLY, AT A HIGHER THAN NORMAL PITCH ATTITUDE AND SLOWER THAN NORMAL SPEED. THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO MUSH ALONG IN GROUND EFFECT AND NEVER ACCELERATED...ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL....' IN A WRITTEN REPORT OF POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION ON THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE, THE FAA STATED, '...NO ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS COULD BE DETERMINED THAT RESULTED IN A REDUCTION OR LOSS OF POWER TO THE ENGINE....' ## Factual narrative On August 6, 1994, at 1300 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172RG, N9686B, owned and operated by Alexandria Aviation, Inc, of Pittstown, New Jersey, struck trees after departure from Alexandria Airport, Pittstown. The pilot and two passengers received minor injuries. One passenger was not injured. The airplane received substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local sightseeing flight which was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated: ...Brakes released, rolled out and lowered nose to get out of ground effect. Climb established over trees,. Became apparent that aircraft wasn't developing full power - raised nose to just clear obstacles, gear raised (full throttle still applied). Terrain was rising faster than aircraft...Lowered nose to maintain control, maneuvered between trees to bring it in as it descended, Aircraft was slowed by trees.... Two FAA inspectors were present at the airport because there was an airshow taking place. One inspector stated: ...The aircraft appeared to lift off early at a higher than normal pitch attitude and a slower than normal speed. The aircraft appeared to mush along in ground effect and never accelerated. The pilot never raised the landing gear until immediately before it crashed into trees. The aircraft engine sounded normal from my position near the runway (which was about 100 feet at the closest point). The second FAA inspector was interviewed by telephone and he reported that he concurred with the first inspectors written statement. Post accident inspection of the engine was conducted by FAA personnel who stated: ...no engine malfunctions could be determined that resulted in a reduction or loss of power to the engine.... ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9686B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9686B-1995-08-19), registration cancelled 1995-08-19, S/N 172RG0967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172RG - Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172RG0967 - Airframe hours: 4097 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-F1A6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Alexandria Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Airport: N85, Alexandria, runway 8, 2,550 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 500 total, 80 in this make and model, 425 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 5 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - 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 19940806020659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940806020659A), Aug 6, 1994: Cessna 172RG, Pittstown, NJ, Substantial damage. Premature liftoff. Mushed into trees off end runway. Never raised landing gear. Sightseeing rides at an air show. 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.