Casualties unknown

1990-05-08: Cessna 152 (N6202Q) — Kenneth Forester, Inc. — West Milford, NJ

West Milford, NJ, US

On May 8, 1990, a Cessna 152 (registration N6202Q) operated by Kenneth Forester, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near West Milford, NJ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI). RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CFI'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE AS AN INSTRUCTOR. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

During a training flight, a CFI aborted a max performance takeoff after liftoff, landed with minimal runway remaining, and the aircraft skidded off the end into a pile of rocks. Inspection found no pre-accident discrepancies.

Incident Overview

A certified flight instructor (CFI) and a student pilot were conducting training exercises involving max performance takeoffs. Shortly after lifting off, the CFI determined that the aircraft would not clear trees located at the airport boundary. The instructor aborted the takeoff and executed a landing back onto the runway. However, only about one-quarter of the runway length remained at that point.

The aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining runway distance and skidded off the departure end, subsequently contacting a pile of rocks. A post-accident inspection of the aircraft revealed no mechanical discrepancies or malfunctions that could have contributed to the event prior to the accident. The CFI had accumulated only 32 hours of instructional experience at the time of the incident.

Sequence of Events

The training session was focused on max performance takeoff procedures, which typically involve achieving the shortest possible ground roll and a steep climb angle to clear obstacles. After initiating the takeoff, the aircraft became airborne, but the CFI perceived that the climb performance would be insufficient to clear the trees at the boundary. Consequently, the decision was made to reject the takeoff and land immediately.

The landing was performed on the remaining runway section, but the aircraft was unable to decelerate sufficiently. It overran the runway end and struck a rock pile. No injuries were reported in the source.

Aircraft and Crew Information

The source does not specify the aircraft type, registration, or engine details. The crew comprised a CFI and a student pilot. The CFI had a total of 32 hours of experience as an instructor, which may have influenced decision-making, though the source does not state this as a causal factor.

Investigation Findings

An inspection of the aircraft found no pre-existing discrepancies. The source does not provide a probable cause or additional analysis. The event appears to involve a decision to abort after liftoff when obstacle clearance became uncertain, resulting in a runway excursion.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X23261. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.