Cessna 172N accident near Manville, New Jersey, December 27, 1996
On December 27, 1996 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N738UW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manville, New Jersey (Cenral New Jersey Region airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to perform a go-around, and his failure to retract the flaps in increments.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 27, 1996 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Manville, New Jersey · Cenral New Jersey Region
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N738UW · registry record · serial 70257
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After a local flight, the pilot entered the traffic pattern for runway 25, which was 3,450 feet in length. The pilot reported that he kept track of the airplane in front due to the sun glare from a setting sun and a very old windscreen, which 'almost totally wiped out the runway environment.' The pilot stated that the approach to the runway was high and fast. After touchdown just beyond the windsock, the airplane bounced twice and the pilot decided to abort the landing. The pilot stated that he added full power, raised the flaps in 10 degree increments, and the airplane proceeded to 'mush into the bushes and trees' prior to the end of the runway on the north side. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the flaps were up, and the carburetor switch in the 'on' position.
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: 296 hours in all; 198 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,466 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 12, 1996; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 47N at 7:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,450 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from MMU, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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.
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.