Cessna 172SP accident near Lincoln Park, New Jersey, March 2, 2008
On March 2, 2008 at about 4:43 pm local time, a Cessna 172SP, registered N107MA, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Lincoln Park, New Jersey (Lincoln Park airport). It was an instructional 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 certificated flight instructor's delayed decision to go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 2008 · about 4:43 pm local time
- Place
- Lincoln Park, New Jersey · Lincoln Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172SP · all 172SPs on the register
- Registration
- N107MA · no longer on the register · serial 172S8604
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated flight instructor (CFI), of the Cessna 172SP, stated that the purpose of the dual flight was local air work practice, followed by takeoff and landing practice. After one high approach that terminated in a go-around, then a successful landing, the student pilot departed and positioned the airplane at a higher altitude than normal on the final approach. The CFI took the controls and demonstrated a sideslip maneuver to the student. Once the airplane lost some altitude, the CFI "…turned over the controls to the student and asked him to land the airplane." The touchdown speed was higher than normal, so the CFI queried the student whether the power was reduced, then instructed him to apply aerodynamic braking. The airplane did not appear to be slowing, so the CFI attempted to go around. He applied power and pulled back on the yoke in an attempt to take off, then saw the airport perimeter fence approaching, and felt a "jolt". The left main landing gear impacted the airport perimeter fence off the departure end of runway 1, then the airplane impacted a guardrail, and came to rest inverted on an adjacent road. The tailcone separated from the fuselage just aft of the cargo compartment. Neither pilot was injured. The CFI reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane prior to the accident.
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)
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Not specified
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 490 hours in all; 142 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: November 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 12 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N07 Lincoln Park NJ
- Destination: N07
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 2,942 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 11 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KCDW, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.