Cessna 172N and Cessna 172P mid-air collision near Lincoln Park, New Jersey, August 15, 1993
On August 15, 1993 at about 6:40 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172N (N5226E) and Cessna 172P (N96135), were involved in a mid-air collision near Lincoln Park, New Jersey (Lincoln Park airport). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE IN THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN, WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN-FLIGHT COLLISION.
THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE IN THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN, WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN-FLIGHT COLLISION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 1993 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Lincoln Park, New Jersey · Lincoln Park
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5226E · no longer on the register · serial 17271781
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N96135 · no longer on the register · serial 17276016
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172N final · quoted from the NTSB record
CESSNA N96135 WAS IN RT TRAFFIC FOR THE 4TH IN A SERIES OF LANDINGS ON RWY 01, AND WAS ESTABLISHED ON FINAL WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE OTHER AIRPLANE, CESSNA N5226E, ON BASE LEG, TURNING RIGHT FROM BASE TO FINAL, JUST PRIOR TO THE IMPACT. THE WITNESS OBSERVED N5226E STRIKE N96135 ON THE RIGHT SIDE, WHILE N5226E WAS IN A RIGHT TURN. AFTER IMPACT N5226E, FELL VERTICALLY TO THE GROUND AND IMPACTED ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE ROAD, IN A RAVINE ABOUT ONE QUARTER MILE SOUTH OF N96135'S IMPACT LOCATION. AFTER IMPACT THE PILOT OF N96135 TRIED TO MAKE THE RUNWAY, BUT COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, AND ELECTED TO LAND IN THE TREES. AS THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TREES, THE RIGHT WING SEPARATED, AND STRUCK AN AUTOMOBILE TRAVELLING SOUTH ON THE ROAD. PAINT TRANSFER AND IMPACT MARKS ON N5226E WERE OBSERVED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE MARKS ON N96135 WERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THERE WERE TWO MINOR INJURIES IN THE AUTOMOBILE.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172P final · quoted from the NTSB record
CESSNA N96135 WAS IN RT TRAFFIC FOR THE 4TH IN A SERIES OF LANDINGS ON RWY 01, AND WAS ESTABLISHED ON FINAL WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE OTHER AIRPLANE, CESSNA N5226E, ON BASE LEG, TURNING RIGHT FROM BASE TO FINAL, JUST PRIOR TO THE IMPACT. THE WITNESS OBSERVED N5226E STRIKE N96135 ON THE RIGHT SIDE, WHILE N5226E WAS IN A RIGHT TURN. AFTER IMPACT N5226E, FELL VERTICALLY TO THE GROUND AND IMPACTED ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE ROAD, IN A RAVINE ABOUT ONE QUARTER MILE SOUTH OF N96135'S IMPACT LOCATION. AFTER IMPACT THE PILOT OF N96135 TRIED TO MAKE THE RUNWAY, BUT COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, AND ELECTED TO LAND IN THE TREES. AS THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TREES, THE RIGHT WING SEPARATED, AND STRUCK AN AUTOMOBILE TRAVELLING SOUTH ON THE ROAD. PAINT TRANSFER AND IMPACT MARKS ON N5226E WERE OBSERVED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE MARKS ON N96135 WERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THERE WERE TWO MINOR INJURIES IN THE AUTOMOBILE.
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 for the Cessna 172N from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 64 hours in all; 64 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,505 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 10, 1993; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Frg III INC.
The flight
- Departed from: N07
- Destination: N07
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 2,942 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from CDW, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172P from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 135 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 61 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,565 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 30, 1993; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MMU Morristown NJ at 4:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 2,942 ft by 40 ft
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.