Cessna 172E accident near Tuckahoe, New Jersey, September 4, 1992
On September 4, 1992 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172E, registered N3847S, was destroyed in an accident near Tuckahoe, New Jersey. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LIGHT CONDITIONS AT DUSK (OR DARKNESS), AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 1992 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Tuckahoe, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172E · all 172Es on the register
- Registration
- N3847S · no longer on the register · serial 17251047
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING AT 1630 EST FOR THE FLIGHT. AT THE TIME, HE INDICATED THAT HE WOULD DEPART AT 1900 EST WITH AN EN ROUTE TIME OF 45 MINUTES. HE INDICATED TO A FAMILY MEMBER THAT HE WOULD ARRIVE AT THE DESTINATION BETWEEN 1900 AND 1930 EST. THE PILOT DEPARTED AT AN UNDETERMINED TIME. THE AIRPLANE WAS REPORTED OVERDUE AND SEARCH AUTHORITIES LOCATED THE AIRPLANE TWO DAYS LATER. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN A SWAMP AREA, ABOUT 8 MILES WEST OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND IN A STEEP RIGHT BANK ATTITUDE. THE WRECKAGE WAS STREWN A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 300 FEET. THE WEATHER IN THE AREA AT 2000 EST WAS REPORTED AS 200 FEET OVERCAST AND THE VISIBILITY WAS 0.50 MILES IN FOG. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE ACCIDENT WAS PRESUMED TO HAVE OCCURRED AT ABOUT 1945.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 337 hours in all; 207 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 91 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N99 West Chester PA
- Destination: 26N Ocean City NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 320° at 4 knots
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft; not recorded at 200 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:14 am from ACY, 999 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.