Cessna 172N accident near Millville, New Jersey, April 10, 2011
On April 10, 2011 at about 3:35 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N6338F, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Millville, New Jersey (Millville Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in a loss of aircraft control during the go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 2011 · about 3:35 pm local time
- Place
- Millville, New Jersey · Millville Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6338F · registry record · serial 17273195
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was on a flight with two other pilot-rated passengers, practicing a no flap landing. He flared the airplane about half-way down the runway, it bounced, and then pitched up, drifted to the left, and the tail tie-down contacted the runway. The pilot relinquished the controls, and the pilot-rated passenger in the right front seat took control of the airplane. He lowered the pitch, and added full power to perform a go around. During the go-around, as the airplane climbed, it continued to the left, and the left horizontal stabilizer impacted an airport sign, separating the left elevator from the airplane. The pilot-rated passenger continued the climb and landed uneventfully. The left horizontal stabilizer, left elevator, and rudder were substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Tailstrike during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR go-around)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Personality/attitude › Motivation/respond to pressure › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 82 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 34 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 22, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 911 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 766 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 26, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,707 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Paramus Flying Club INC
The flight
- Departed from: LDJ Linden NJ at 2:07 pm
- Destination: MIV Millville NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 10, 6,002 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; ovct at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from MIV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N6338F the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.