Cessna 172M accident near Toms River, New Jersey, June 25, 2008
On June 25, 2008 at about 5:46 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N13105, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Toms River, New Jersey (Robert Miller Air Park airport). It was an instructional 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 failure of the pilot's seat to engage or remain engaged due to the improper inspection of the worn seat tracks.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2008 · about 5:46 pm local time
- Place
- Toms River, New Jersey · Robert Miller Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N13105 · no longer on the register · serial 17262499
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a soft-field takeoff demonstrated by the student pilot, the certificated flight instructor's(CFI's) seat rolled backward, and he instinctively reached for the control yoke. The airplane yawed to the left, the left wing struck the ground, and the airplane flipped over. The CFI stated that he adjusted the seat forward prior to taxiing the airplane to the runway and recalled "shaking the seat" to assure it was in the locked position. Examination of the seat tracks for the CFI's seat revealed that all four roller housing tangs (feet) were spread and bent, and the corresponding locations on the seat tracks were gouged. Examination of the seat tracks for both seats revealed several seat pin adjustment holes exceeded the dimensions for acceptable wear as described in the Cessna Service Manual, and "excessive wear" was noted to the seat track cap widths and the roller housing tangs. An Airworthiness Directive (AD) which required inspection of the seat tracks was completed 90 hours prior to the accident. The AD did not require inspection for excessive wear to the seat track cap widths and the tangs of the seat housings.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during takeoff
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Fuselage › Seat/cargo attach fitting › Malfunction
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Fuselage › Seat/cargo attach fitting › Inadequate inspection
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › (general) › Not specified
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,153 hours in all; 1,018 in this make and model; 149 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 5,933 as pilot in command; 4,672 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 11, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 92 hours in all; 91 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 32 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 18, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,631 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 16, 2007; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lakehurst Navy Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: MJX Toms River NJ at 5:46 pm
- Destination: NEL Lakehurst NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 5,949 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from MJX
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.