Cessna 172P N54812

Summary

On 7 February 2005 at about 18:25 local time, a Cessna 172P registered N54812, operated by Philadelphia Flight Academy, LLC., was involved in an accident near Cross Keys, New Jersey, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 February 2005 at 18:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Cross Keys, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Cross Keys Airport (17N)

Coordinates

40.2987, -74.5201

Aircraft

Cessna 172P

Registration

N54812

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Philadelphia Flight Academy, LLC.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cross Keys → Cross Keys

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD05CA037

Nobody was injured.

The pilots failure to maintain directional control. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilots lack of experience, and the snow bank.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The accident took place during the pilot's first supervised solo. The pilot was performing takeoffs and landings on runway 9. The first landing was without incident. During the second landing, the airplane departed the left side of the runway, struck a snow bank, yawed to the left, then nosed over. The pilot stated that the seat was lower in this airplane, than the airplane he had performed his previous training in, and he could not see the runway during the flare. He did not realize the airplane's proximity to the left side of the runway, since he was looking to the right at the taxiway, from which he planned to exit the runway. A post accident inspection of the airplane noted that it had sustained substantial damage. No pre-accident mechanical malfunctions were discovered and control continuity was verified. At the time of the accident the student pilot had accumulated 12.3 hours of total flight time, all of which were in make and model. The reported winds 13 nautical miles northwest, at 1254, were from 110 degrees at 3 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.