Cessna 172N accident near Old Bridge, New Jersey, November 21, 2021
On November 21, 2021 at about 9:44 pm local time, a 1978 Cessna 172N, registered N8074E, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Old Bridge, New Jersey (Old Bridge airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s loss of control during a go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 21, 2021 · about 9:44 pm local time
- Place
- Old Bridge, New Jersey · Old Bridge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N, built 1978 · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N8074E · registry record · serial 17272130
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On the day of the accident, the student pilot performed three takeoffs and landings with his flight instructor before he was cleared by the instructor for solo pattern flight. A video recording showed that during his second solo landing, the airplane bounced, and then began a go-around. During the go-around the airplane pitched up sharply, stalled, turned toward the left and descended to the ground. The airplane impacted the left side of the runway, sustained substantial damage to the left wing and forward fuselage, and a post impact fire ensued. The flight instructor reported that there were no pre-accident anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 34 hours in all; 34 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,663 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 8, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 2,866 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,594 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 4:42 pm from 3N6
Weather report (METAR): METAR K3N6 212142Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM BKN031 OVC038 12/05 A3015
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on December 30, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Information from Flight Instructor | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Video Recording (Courtesy Old Bridge Airport) | MOV file | Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.