Cessna 152 accident near Robbinsville, New Jersey, March 20, 1993
On March 20, 1993 at about 2:40 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N714XH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Robbinsville, New Jersey (Trenton Robbinsville airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S FAILURE TO SUCCESSFULLY TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING TAKEOFF. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING LIFTOFF, WHILE PRACTICING A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 1993 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Robbinsville, New Jersey · Trenton Robbinsville
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N714XH · no longer on the register · serial 15279510
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) AND STUDENT PILOT INITIATED A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF. ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTOR, 'THE PLANE ROTATED BETWEEN 40 AND 45 KNOTS.' SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF, AT ABOUT 10 TO 15 AGL, THE AIRPLANE 'BROKE' TO THE LEFT. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN CONTROL, BUT THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT, THEN RIGHT. SUBSEQUENTLY, ITS MAIN GEAR IMPACTED THE WING OF A NAVION AIRPLANE, PARKED ABOUT 75 FEET OFF THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY AND 2800 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS REPORTED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 392 hours in all; 315 in this make and model; 107 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 269 as pilot in command; 109 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,129 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 18, 1993; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aero Venture, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: N87 at 2:40 pm
- Destination: N87
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,275 ft by 80 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.