Cessna 172RG accident near Robbinsville, New Jersey, November 6, 1988
On November 6, 1988 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N9307D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Robbinsville, New Jersey (Trenton/Robbinsville airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY CORRECT FOR THE CROSSWIND AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING A CROSSWIND LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 6, 1988 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Robbinsville, New Jersey · Trenton/Robbinsville
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N9307D · registry record · serial 172RG 01114
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING FLOWN FROM THE RIGHT SEAT BY A PERSON PRACTICING FOR HER CFI RATING. SHE CHECKED THE WINDS PRIOR TO TAKEOFF AND DETERMINED THE CROSSWIND COMPONENT WAS 9-11 KNOTS. ON HER FIRST APPROACH, SHE MADE A GO AROUND DUE TO THE WINDS. ON THE SECOND APPROACH, SHE CORRECTED FOR THE CROSSWIND; HOWEVER, AS SHE FLARED A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE ACFT AND IT TOUCHED DOWN WITH THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL ON THE RUNWAY AND THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL OFF THE RUNWAY IN THE SOD. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DRIFT RIGHT STRIKING SIGNS AND A WEATHER BOX. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, WHEN SHE CHECKED THE WINDS, SHE FOUND SHE HAD MISCALCULATED AND THE ACTUAL CROSSWIND COMPONENT WAS 16-22 KNOTS. SHE SAID SHE WOULD NOT HAVE FLOWN IN THE HIGHER WINDS HAD SHE KNOWN OF HER ERROR.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 570 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 410 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,188 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 8, 1988; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aero Venture, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: N47 Robbinsville NJ at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,290 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 16 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.