Cessna 172N accident near Colts Neck, New Jersey, July 14, 1983
On July 14, 1983, a Cessna 172N, registered N73749, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colts Neck, New Jersey (Colts Neck 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1983
- Place
- Colts Neck, New Jersey · Colts Neck
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N73749 · no longer on the register · serial 172-67648
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
REPORTEDLY, THE PLT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) WAS ON AN ANNUAL FLT CHECK WITH AN INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) ON BOARD. THE FLYING CLUB HAD A REQUIREMENT FOR AN ANNUAL, CLUB PROFICIENCY, CHECK FLT. DURING THE FLT, THE CHECK PLT ASKED THE PIC TO LAND AT THE COLTS NECK ARPT. HE STATED THAT HE WAS CONFIDENT THE LANDING CONDITIONS ON THE SOD RWY WOULD BE GOOD, SINCE HE HAD RECENTLY LANDED THERE IN ANOTHER ACFT. HOWEVER, DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE ACFT WENT OVER A HUMP IN THE RWY & BECAME AIRBORNE MOMENTARILY. REPORTEDLY, BACK PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ELEVATOR CONTROLS & WHEN THE NOSE CAME BACK DOWN, ANOTHER HUMP WAS ENCOUNTERED & THE NOSE GEAR FORK FAILED. THE STRUT THEN DUG INTO THE GROUND & THE ACFT NOSED OVER.
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, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,418 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 142 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,040 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BLM Belmar-Farm. NJ at 1:10 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,560 ft by 125 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.