No fatalities

CESSNA 172 N accident at Manville, NJ, 24 Nov 2020

Manville, NJ, United States

On November 24, 2020, a CESSNA 172 N operated by Civil Air Patrol was involved in an aviation accident near Manville, NJ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glidepath while on approach to the runway, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in the airplane colliding with a tree on final approach. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 15 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glidepath while on approach to the runway, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in the airplane colliding with a tree on final approach.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Descent/approach/glide path — Not attained/maintainedPilotInstructor/check pilot

All Cessna 172 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 24 Nov 2020 CESSNA 172 N accident near Manville, NJ?

The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glidepath while on approach to the runway, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in the airplane colliding with a tree on final approach.

Were there any fatalities in the 24 Nov 2020 CESSNA 172 N accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 24 Nov 2020 involved a CESSNA 172 N, operated by Civil Air Patrol, at Manville, NJ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glidepath while on approach to the runway, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in the airplane colliding with a tree on final approach.