Cessna 172P accident near Cross Keys, New Jersey, September 8, 2000
On September 8, 2000 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N9594L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cross Keys, New Jersey (Cross Keys Airport). It was a personal 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 operator's inadequate 100-hour inspection of the airplane, and the pilot's continued operation with known deficiencies in equipment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 2000 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Cross Keys, New Jersey · Cross Keys Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N9594L · no longer on the register · serial 17276587
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff, the pilot's seat slid rearward. He aborted the takeoff, locked his seat into a proper position, and taxied back for another takeoff attempt. He then performed two takeoff and landings uneventfully. During the third takeoff, his seat slid rearward again. The pilot grabbed the yoke and attempted to pull himself forward. The airplane climbed, stalled, and struck the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the holes in the seat tracks were worn and oblong. The airplane had flown about 37 hours since the last 100-hour inspection, when the seat tracks were required to be inspected.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 831 hours in all; 639 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 806 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,514 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 17, 2000; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 17N at 2:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 14,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from PHL, 14 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.