# NTSB NYC98LA163: Cessna 172P, N116FR, West Milford, NJ, August 7, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 1998, 20:05 local (Aug 7, 1998, 00:05 UTC) - Place: West Milford, NJ - Location: 41.1284° N, 74.3465° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GREENWOOD LAKE (4N1), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1284&lon=-74.3465&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report August 27, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43705 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA163 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43705/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA163 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and the instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - aborted - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, dual student - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - object - fence post ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N116FR-2015-04-30), registration cancelled 2015-04-30, S/N 17276517, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17276517 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19980806019819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980806019819A), Aug 6, 1998: Cessna 172P, West Milford, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23)The student landed the aircraft in a left crab. He then added full power, right aileron and right rudder. The CFI brought the flaps to 10 degrees from… 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.