Probable cause
The student pilot’s loss of control during a go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
NTSB analysis
On the day of the accident, the student pilot performed three takeoffs and landings with his flight instructor before he was cleared by the instructor for solo pattern flight. A video recording showed that during his second solo landing, the airplane bounced, and then began a go-around. During the go-around the airplane pitched up sharply, stalled, turned toward the left and descended to the ground. The airplane impacted the left side of the runway, sustained substantial damage to the left wing and forward fuselage, and a post impact fire ensued. The flight instructor reported that there were no pre-accident anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA22LA070 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Nov 21, 2021
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Old Bridge, New Jersey
- Nearest airport
- Old Bridge (3N6)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Dusk
Cessna 172N
- N-number
- N8074E
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1978
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.