Cessna 172P accident near Princeton, New Jersey, July 29, 2000
On July 29, 2000 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N65827, was substantially damaged in an accident near Princeton, New Jersey (Princeton Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the student pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the aborted landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 2000 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Princeton, New Jersey · Princeton Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N65827 · no longer on the register · serial 17275900
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot departed on a solo instructional flight and was on his third approach to the runway. The airplane approached the runway in a nose-high attitude, and struck the tailskid on the ground. The student pilot applied engine power to abort the landing and the airplane veered left and struck the left wing on the ground. Witnesses said the airplane 'cartwheeled' and came to rest facing opposite the direction of travel. The student pilot logged 42 hours of total flight experience. He said there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. According to FAA Advisory Circular AC-61-23C, Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge: 'The effect of torque increases in direct proportion to engine power, airspeed, and airplane attitude. If the power setting is high, the airspeed slow, and the angle of attack high, the effect of torque is greater. During takeoffs and climbs, when the effect of torque is most pronounced, the pilot must apply sufficient right rudder pressure to counteract the left-turning tendency and maintain a straight takeoff path.'
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: student
- Flight time: 40 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,850 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 21, 2000; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 39N at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 3,099 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from TTN, 10 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.