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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

July 11, 2002 · Cessna 172 · N1502E

West Milford, NJ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 11, 2002
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
West Milford, NJ
Aircraft
Cessna 172
Tail Number
N1502E
Operator
Caldwell Flight Academy
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC02LA134

The flight instructor over flew the airport, and identified runway 24 as the favored runway. He entered left downwind, selected flaps to 10 degrees, turned base, and then final. On final, the VASI was white over white. The airplane touched down, bounced "high" into the air, and then touched down nosewheel first about 20 feet left of centerline. The airplane "veered" left, exited the runway, and continued approximately 470 feet before coming to a stop on the parallel taxiway. The pilot did not experience any preimpact failures with either the engine or the airframe, and elected not to execute a go-around because of a cliff located at the departure end of the runway. A weather observation taken 8 minutes before the accident about 21 miles to the southeast of the accident site recorded the wind as 030 degrees at 7 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The flight instructor's improper recovery from a bounced landing.

Full Narrative

On July 11, 2002, about 1345 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N1502E, was substantially damaged while landing at the Greenwood Lake Airport (4N1), West Milford, New Jersey. The certificated flight instructor, and both passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the promotional flight that departed the Essex County Airport, (CDW), Fairfield, New Jersey, about 1315. A flight plan was not filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the flight instructor, he over flew 4N1, and identified that the winds favored runway 24. He entered a left downwind for the runway, selected flaps to 10 degrees, turned base, and then final. On final, the VASI was white over white, and just prior to touching down, the pilot noticed the airspeed increase from approximately 75 to 90 knots. The airplane touched down, bounced "high" into the air, and then touched down nosewheel first about 20 feet left of centerline. The airplane "veered" left, exited the runway, and continued approximately 470 feet before coming to a stop on the parallel taxiway. The pilot added that he did not experience any preimpact failures with either the engine or the airframe, and that he elected not to execute a go-around because of a cliff located at the departure end of runway 24. A weather observation was taken 8 minutes before the accident at CDW, which was located 21 miles to the southeast of the accident site. According to the observation, the wind was 030 degrees at 7 knots, visibility was 10 miles, sky clear, temperature was 72 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point was 43 degrees Fahrenheit, and the altimeter setting was 30.11 inches of mercury.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:45 EDT
Nearest AirportGreenwood Lake (0nm)
Runway24
Runway Length4000 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172
Tail NumberN1502E
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorCaldwell Flight Academy
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-H2AD · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 45 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind30° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point43 C
Altimeter30.11 inHg
Observation Time15:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data