- Date
- July 12, 1996, 21:30 local (Jul 13, 1996, 01:30 UTC)
- Place
- Fairfield, NJ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N98730Cessna 172P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 1, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960712016699A
- Case key
- 39217
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's improper aborted takeoff by extending full flaps which resulted in a porpoise. Subsequently, the airplane veered off the runway and the nose gear collapsed.
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.
Analysis
During the takeoff roll, the control wheel would not move aft, and the pilot performed an aborted takeoff. During the aborted takeoff, the pilot reduced power, and extended full flaps. The airplane then porpoised and veered off the runway collapsing the nose gear. Examination of the wreckage did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunctions. The Pilot's Operating Handbook, stated to retract the flaps when aborting the takeoff.
Factual narrative
On July 12, 1996 about 2130 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N98730, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff at the Essex County Airport, Fairfield, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. There was no flight plan for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated that he had performed two previous takeoff and landings. During a third takeoff, the control wheel would not move aft, and he aborted the takeoff. During the aborted takeoff, the airplane porpoised and veered off the runway, where the nose gear collapsed, and the propeller struck the ground.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the pilot reported that during the aborted takeoff, he reduced power and extended full flaps. Examination of the wreckage by the FAA Inspector revealed no evidence of malfunctions with the airplane.
In the Pilot's Operating Handbook, in the emergency procedures, for engine failure during takeoff run, it stated to
1. Throttle-IDLE. 2. Brakes-APPLY. 3. Wing Flaps-RETRACT. . . .
The amplified procedures further stated: ". . .the most important thing to do is stop the airplane on the remaining runway. . . ."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N98730
- Reported as
- Cessna 172P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17276340
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Mac Dan Aircraft Rental Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- CDW
- Airport
- CDW · Essex County, runway 22, 4,553 × 80 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 225 total · 71 in this make and model · 153 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CDW
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N98730 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.