- Date
- August 6, 1998, 20:05 local (Aug 7, 1998, 00:05 UTC)
- Place
- West Milford, NJ
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N116FRCessna 172P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report August 27, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980806019819A
- Case key
- 43705
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 student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and the instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight.
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 landing on runway 24, the 30-hour student pilot (SP) touched down and the airplane bounced towards the right side of the runway. The SP then initiated a go-around and added right rudder and full right aileron. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and was unable to gain altitude before the airplane struck a metal fence post located about 100 feet to the right of the runway. The SP said, '...for unknown reason the airplane didn't reply to the controls as if something was holding it and prevented its climb...' Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact abnormalities of the airframe or engine. It was noted that the flaps were observed in the zero degree position. Winds reported at a nearby airport were from 180 degrees at 6 knots.
Factual narrative
On August 6, 1998, about 2005 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N116FR, was substantially damaged during landing at the Greenwood Lake Airport (4N1), West Milford, New Jersey. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot (SP) sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local instructional flight which departed the Teterboro Airport, Teterboro, New Jersey. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The airplane was on approach to runway 24, a 4,000 foot long, 60 foot wide asphalt runway. In a written statement, the CFI said:
"...At the last minute [the SP] touched down with the right undercarriage and nose slightly to the left. He then added full power and told me he was going around. All of a sudden he added right rudder and full right aileron. I then said 'my plane' and kept saying 'my plane, my plane.' He was completely frozen at the controls and wouldn't let go. I managed to get us off. [The airplane was] heading for the trees and trying to climb out, but we were too low..."
The airplane struck a metal fence post which was located about 100 feet to the right of the runway.
In a written statement, the SP said the airplane bounced to the right side of the runway during the landing and he initiated a go around. The CFI then took control of the airplane. The SP further stated:
"...[The CFI] tried to gain altitude and avoid the high trees, but for unknown reason the airplane didn't reply to the controls as if something was holding it and prevented its climb..."
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not reveal any pre-impact abnormalities of the airframe or engine. It was noted that the flaps were observed in the zero degree position.
In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report Form, the CFI reported approximately 2,300 hours of total flight experience, of which 700 hours were in make and model. The SP reported 30 hours of total flight experience, all in make and model. Winds reported at a nearby airport were from 180 degrees at 6 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N116FR
- Reported as
- Cessna 172P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17276517
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-025, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Sparta Aviation Inc
- Registered owner
- Sparta Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed
- TEB · Teterboro, NY
- Airport
- 4N1 · Greenwood Lake, runway 24, 4,000 × 60 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
- 34
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 2,300 total · 700 in this make and model · 1,600 as pilot in command · 180 in the last 90 days · 110 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CDW, 15 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.