Accident Overview
On June 20, 2010, at approximately 1605 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, registration N738QZ, was substantially damaged when it overran the runway during landing at Greenwood Lake Airport (4N1), West Milford, New Jersey. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The certificated commercial pilot incurred minor injuries and the student pilot rated passenger was seriously injured.
Pilot Account
According to a written statement from the commercial pilot, they departed Essex County Airport (CDW), Caldwell, New Jersey, flew to 4N1, and performed two normal landings. After lunch, they planned to perform two landings and a go-around before returning to CDW. On the first touch-and-go, the pilot performed a forward slip during the landing approach. The student pilot, seated in the left seat, began pushing on the yoke, resulting in a descent that reached an indicated 100 knots, and would not relinquish the controls to the accident pilot in the right seat. Once the landing gear touched the runway, the passenger released the controls, but the pilot was unable to stop the airplane on the remaining runway. The airplane overran the paved surface, went through a perimeter fence, and traveled over an embankment. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures before the accident.
Witness Observations
Two witnesses at the airport observed the landing. They reported the airplane was traveling at about 100 miles per hour just prior to impact. Though unable to see the airplane touchdown due to obstructions, both heard three squeaks they attributed to the wheels contacting the runway, followed by a crash sound. One witness stated that when the airplane was last seen, it was more than halfway down the runway and still airborne. Both witnesses noted the engine was not running and the airplane was quiet except for wind noise. Upon reaching the runway end, they saw damaged fencing and the airplane over the embankment edge. One witness switched the fuel selector valve from the BOTH to the OFF position.
Fuel and Flight Time
The flight school's chief instructor reported the airplane had flown 0.8 hours before the accident flight that day, with the accident pilot flying 0.4 hours. Fuel records showed the airplane was refueled twice the previous day: 8.0 gallons and 14.2 gallons.
Examination Findings
An FAA inspector found the airplane came to rest facing the direction of travel on an approximate 30-degree rocky incline. The airplane attempted to land on runway 24; tire marks were located 604 feet from the departure end of the runway. The airplane departed the paved surface, crossed grass, went through an airport perimeter fence, and descended over a cliff. One propeller blade was not bent and showed no rotational scoring; the other blade was bent aft and also lacked rotational scoring. Inspection on June 24, 2010, by an airframe manufacturer representative with FAA oversight confirmed the flaps were retracted, the elevator trim was at 5 degrees tab up, and flight control continuity was intact. The top spark plugs were light gray and normally worn. The fuel system was continuous from wing tanks to carburetor; the wing tanks were intact, but the carburetor bowl was cracked.
Pilot Information
The commercial pilot, age 35, held a commercial certificate with ratings for single-engine land, multiengine land, instrument airplane, and single-engine sea (private), plus a flight instructor certificate for single-engine. Her most recent FAA third-class medical was issued February 2, 2006. She received a tailwheel endorsement on June 17, 2010, and had flown about 10 hours at that school. She had 623 total flight hours, with 520 in single-engine land. The student pilot passenger, age 43, held a student pilot certificate and third-class medical issued August 9, 2006; total flight experience was not determined.
Aircraft and Airport Information
The 1977 Cessna 172N was equipped with a Lycoming O-320-H2AD engine. Its most recent 100-hour inspection was June 17, 2010, at tachometer reading 10,145.4 hours; the accident tachometer read 10,155.2 hours. Greenwood Lake Airport (4N1) has a single asphalt runway, 6/24, measuring 3,471 feet by 60 feet, elevation 791 feet MSL, with steep rock ledges beyond both ends. No air traffic control tower is present.
Weather Conditions
The 1553 weather observation at Sussex Airport (FWN), 13 miles west, reported wind variable at 6 knots with gusts to 14 knots, visibility 10 miles, broken cloud layer at 9,000 feet, temperature 31°C, dew point 18°C, and altimeter 29.86 inches of mercury.