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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

May 19, 1992 · Cessna 172P · N55110

Princeton, NJ

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 19, 1992
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Princeton, NJ
Aircraft
Cessna 172P
Tail Number
N55110
Operator
Raritan Valley Flying School
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO92FA069

The airplane struck a 50 foot high tree at night, 1200 feet beyond the departure end of runway 28. The airplane was headed westbound. There were no known witnesses to the accident. The pilot of another airplane was trying to land using runway 28, but was twice unsuccessful, which she attributed to a tailwind, so she landed on the first try using runway 10. After her second try to land on runway 28, she noticed another airplane, also doing a go around after an unsuccessful landing attempt on runway 28. She radioed the pilot to advise him to use runway 10, and he replied with an unclear transmission which abruptly ended. The investigation revealed the pilot had conducted night flight at this airport four times before. He had four hours of total night flight time. The investigation did not reveal evidence of mechanical malfunction and the flaps were extended five degrees. According to Cessna, during a go around, the flaps should be reduced to 10 degrees until obstacles have been cleared.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE OVER AN OBSTACLE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE A TAILWIND, DARK NIGHT, AND PREMATURE RAISING OF THE FLAPS.

Full Narrative

THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A 50 FOOT HIGH TREE AT NIGHT, 1200 FEET BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 28. THE AIRPLANE WAS HEADED WESTBOUND. THERE WERE NO KNOWN WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT OF ANOTHER AIRPLANE WAS TRYING TO LAND USING RUNWAY 28, BUT WAS TWICE UNSUCCESSFUL, WHICH SHE ATTRIBUTED TO A TAILWIND, SO SHE LANDED ON THE FIRST TRY USING RUNWAY 10. AFTER HER SECOND TRY TO LAND ON RUNWAY 28, SHE NOTICED ANOTHER AIRPLANE, ALSO DOING A GO AROUND AFTER AN UNSUCCESSFUL LANDING ATTEMPT ON RUNWAY 28. SHE RADIOED THE PILOT TO ADVISE HIM TO USE RUNWAY 10, AND HE REPLIED WITH AN UNCLEAR TRANSMISSION WHICH ABRUPTLY ENDED. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PILOT HAD CONDUCTED NIGHT FLIGHT AT THIS AIRPORT FOUR TIMES BEFORE. HE HAD FOUR HOURS OF TOTAL NIGHT FLIGHT TIME. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION AND THE FLAPS WERE EXTENDED FIVE DEGREES. ACCORDING TO CESSNA, DURING A GO AROUND, THE FLAPS SHOULD BE REDUCED TO 10 DEGREES UNTIL OBSTACLES HAVE BEEN CLEARED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:38 EDT
Nearest AirportPrinceton (0nm W)
Runway28
Runway Length3096 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172P
Tail NumberN55110
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRaritan Valley Flying School
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320D2J · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 21 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind60° @ 15 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 59
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time01:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data