Cessna 172M N13105

Summary

On 25 June 2008 at about 17:46 local time, a Cessna 172M registered N13105, operated by Lakehurst Navy Flying Club, was involved in an accident near Toms River, New Jersey, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 June 2008 at 17:46

Classification

Accident

Location

Toms River, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Robert Miller Air Park (MJX)

Coordinates

39.9272, -74.2922

Aircraft

Cessna 172M

Registration

N13105

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Lakehurst Navy Flying Club

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Toms River → Lakehurst

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC08LA228

2 people had minor injuries.

The failure of the pilot's seat to engage or remain engaged due to the improper inspection of the worn seat tracks.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a soft-field takeoff demonstrated by the student pilot, the certificated flight instructor's(CFI's) seat rolled backward, and he instinctively reached for the control yoke. The airplane yawed to the left, the left wing struck the ground, and the airplane flipped over. The CFI stated that he adjusted the seat forward prior to taxiing the airplane to the runway and recalled "shaking the seat" to assure it was in the locked position. Examination of the seat tracks for the CFI's seat revealed that all four roller housing tangs (feet) were spread and bent, and the corresponding locations on the seat tracks were gouged. Examination of the seat tracks for both seats revealed several seat pin adjustment holes exceeded the dimensions for acceptable wear as described in the Cessna Service Manual, and "excessive wear" was noted to the seat track cap widths and the roller housing tangs. An Airworthiness Directive (AD) which required inspection of the seat tracks was completed 90 hours prior to the accident. The AD did not require inspection for excessive wear to the seat track cap widths and the tangs of the seat housings.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.