Cessna 172 accident near West Milford, New Jersey, June 16, 1987
On June 16, 1987 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N9638L, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Milford, New Jersey (Greenwood Lake airport). It was an instructional 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 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
- June 16, 1987 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- West Milford, New Jersey · Greenwood Lake
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N9638L · no longer on the register · serial 17276594
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 172 IS REPORTED TO HAVE LOST POWER AFTER GETTING AIRBORNE WHILE MAKING A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF FROM A 1838 FT LONG RUNWAY. THE STUDENT PILOT TOLD THE OPERATOR HE LANDED THE AIRCRAFT ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY AND RAN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND SETTLED IN SOME TREES BELOW THE RUNWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE REPORTED POWER LOSS WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE PILOT DID NOT RESPOND TO INQUIRIES REGARDING 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
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 60 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 656 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 7, 1987; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mac Dan Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: CDW Caldwell NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 1,838 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.