# NTSB NYC98LA189: Cessna 172M, N64453, Teterboro, NJ, September 16, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 16, 1998, 19:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Teterboro, NJ - Location: 40.8501° N, 74.0608° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at TETERBORO (TEB), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8501&lon=-74.0608&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43993 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA189 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43993/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA189 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane. Factors in this accident were the night light conditions, and pilot's lack of recent night flight experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - light condition - night (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of recent experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot landed at his destination at night. While taxing, he was unable to locate the airplane's taxi/landing, and panel lights. He was given progressive taxi instructions by the ground controller, and was instructed to make a right turn onto taxiway 'B' and to 'expedite' his crossing of runway 1/19. The pilot made a right turn onto taxiway 'B' and applied power. He said it was 'absolutely dark' and he did not see the taxiway center line lights anymore. The pilot lost control of the airplane, struck the sign for the 'P/L/B' intersection, and traveled about 50 feet past the sign, into the runway 1/19 safety area. Taxiway 'B' contained center line lighting only, and all of the taxiway center line lights were functional. Examination of the wreckage did not revealed any pre-impact abnormalities. A check of the airplane's landing/taxi light revealed it worked normally. The pilot reported about 210 hours of total flight experience, of which about 65 hours were in make and model. The pilot stated he possessed a total of about 10 hours of night flight experience and had not flown at night since 1973. ## Factual narrative On September 16, 1998, about 1940 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N64453, was substantially damaged when it struck an airport sign while taxing, after landing at the Teterboro Airport, Teterboro (TEB), New Jersey. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Columbia County Airport, Hudson, New York, about 1815. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated he landed on runway 1 and made a left turn onto taxiway 'G.' The pilot asked for and received progressive taxi instructions from the TEB ground controller. The pilot said he had difficulty seeing the airplane's instruments and was unable to locate the instrument panel light switch. He was also unable to locate the landing/taxi light, and the airplane's panel lights. The pilot used the green taxiway center line lights to taxi to taxiway 'B.' He was then told to make a right turn onto taxiway 'B' and to "expedite" his crossing of runway 1/19. The pilot made a right turn onto taxiway 'B' and applied power. He said it was "absolutely dark" and he did not see the taxiway center line lights anymore. The pilot also stated, he might have been going too fast and he thought he felt the airplane traveling on the grass before the impact. In a written statement the pilot said: "...[I] applied power, and the aircraft started to get away from me. As I was reducing power to try to recover control of the aircraft, I hit something..." The airplane struck the sign for the "P/L/B" intersection and traveled about 50 feet past the sign, into the runway 1/19 safety area. Taxiway "B" contained center line lighting. It was not equipped with taxiway edge lights. According to TEB airport personnel, all of the taxiway center line lights were functional. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not revealed any pre-impact abnormalities. A check of the airplane's landing/taxi light revealed it worked normally. The pilot reported about 210 hours of total flight experience, of which about 65 hours were in make and model. The pilot stated he had a total of about 10 hours of night flight experience, and had not flown at night since 1973. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64453](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N64453), registered now, S/N 17265240, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17265240 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sparta Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Danny Ortiz - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: 1B1, HUDSON, NY - Destination: TEB - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: TEB, Teterboro, runway 1, 7,500 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 218 total, 65 in this make and model, 134 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 0° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TEB ## 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 19980916045029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980916045029A), Sep 16, 1998: Cessna 172M, Teterboro, NJ, Substantial damage. (.19)On September 16, 1998, about 1940 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N64453, was substantially damaged when it struck an airport sign while taxing,… 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.