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NTSB Report

October 4, 2003 · Cessna 172P · N98145

Sussex, NJ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 4, 2003
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Sussex, NJ
Aircraft
Cessna 172P
Tail Number
N98145
Operator
Century Air
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
IAD04CA001

During the approach and landing, the flight instructor was at the controls with the student pilot, and was also talking him through the maneuvers. The airplane touched down about "midfield" on a wet runway. It subsequently hydroplaned, and overran the runway's departure end. The nose landing gear then encountered mud, and the left wing tip and the propeller struck the ground. Before and after the accident, the brakes operated normally. The runway was 3,499 feet long, and had a displaced threshold of 1,100 feet. The flight instructor stated that the winds were calm at the time of the accident; however, winds reported at the airport shortly beforehand indicated a 4-knot tailwind for the runway utilized. The flight instructor also stated that the approach and landing speeds may have been higher than normal.

NTSB Probable Cause

The flight instructor's failure to initiate a go-around. A factor was the wet runway conditions.

Full Narrative

On October 4, 2003, about 1500 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N98145, was substantially damaged when it overran the runway while landing at Sussex Airport (FWN), Sussex, New Jersey. The certificated flight instructor and the certificated student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the airplane was not operating on a flight plan. The local instructional flight, which originated at Essex County Airport (CDW), Caldwell, New Jersey, was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a written statement submitted by the flight instructor, the airplane departed Essex at 1430. The weather began to deteriorate, and the flight instructor elected to land at Sussex to allow weather conditions to improve. At Sussex, under calm wind conditions, the airplane touched down about the "midfield" point on a wet, runway 03. The braking action was "nil", and the airplane hydroplaned. It then began to veer to the right, and departed the end of the runway. Once the airplane was off the runway, the instructor regained directional control, and he steered it to the right to avoid a road, but encountered grass and mud. The student pilot then applied heavy brake pressure, which resulted in the airplane turning harder to the right, and the nose landing gear was forced deep into the mud. The left wing tip and the propeller then struck the ground. The instructor also reported that the brakes operated normally while taxiing at Essex, as well as during the airplane's recovery at Sussex. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the student pilot was on his second flight. The flight instructor was at the controls with the student pilot during the approach and landing, and was also talking the student through the maneuvers. The flight instructor also advised the inspector that the approach and landing may have been at airspeeds higher than normal. Runway 03 at Sussex was 3,499 feet long and 75 feet wide, and had a displaced threshold of 1,100 feet. The weather reported at Sussex, at 1453, included winds from 210 degrees true at 4 knots, 10 miles visibility in light rain, a scattered cloud layer at 1,400 feet, an overcast cloud layer at 1,900 feet, temperature 52 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 29.97 inches of mercury.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:00 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172P
Tail NumberN98145
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorCentury Air
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-D2J · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 26 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind210° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 1900 ft
Temperature / Dew Point52 / 50
Altimeter29.77 inHg
Observation Time14:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data