Cessna 172RG accident near Morristown, New Jersey, May 23, 1999
On May 23, 1999 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N9475B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Morristown, New Jersey (Morristown Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The right main landing gear collapsed for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1999 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Morristown, New Jersey · Morristown Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N9475B · no longer on the register · serial 172RG0834
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that she received her approach clearance about 12 miles from the airport. At that time, she lowered the landing gear and performed a 'gumps' check which included checking the gas, undercarriage, mixture and propeller. After lowering the landing gear, she observed a green landing gear light. The landing seemed normal, and the pilot did not hear a gear warning horn. The right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane spun 180 degrees on the runway. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, and a local mechanic, did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 607 hours in all; 122 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 541 as pilot in command; 259 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,549 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 11, 1998; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OXB Ocean City MD at 8:40 pm
- Destination: MMU
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 5,999 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from MMU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.