Cessna 172P accident near Linden, New Jersey, March 10, 2003
On March 10, 2003 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N30EF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Linden, New Jersey (Linden airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind and his failure to maintain directional control during landing. Factors in the accident were the crosswind and the snowbank.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 10, 2003 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Linden, New Jersey · Linden · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N30EF · no longer on the register · serial 17275849
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot flew a local flight and returned to land at the departure airport. When he returned there was a strong crosswind. During his first attempt to land on runway 27, a 4,137 foot long, 100 foot wide, asphalt runway, he was too far left of the runway and performed a go-around. During the second approach, one main wheel touched down on the runway, followed by the other. After touchdown, the pilot encountered a strong gust of wind which pushed the airplane off to the left side of the runway. The airplane's left main landing wheel then struck a snowbank on the left side of the runway, and the airplane ended up in a drainage ditch. The pilot reported his total flight experience to be 103 hours, all in make and model. Winds reported at an airport about 5 miles northeast, were from 320 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 19.
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: 103 hours in all; 103 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 61 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Fleet Training Systems
The flight
- Departed from: LDJ Linden NJ at 8:00 pm
- Destination: LDJ NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,137 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 12 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from EWR, 5 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.