Cessna 172 accident near Westmoreland, NY
On April 18, 2016, a Cessna 172 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Westmoreland, NY. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 18, 2016
- Place
- Westmoreland, NY
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 43.114°N, 75.422°W
- NTSB ID
- 20160418X04320
Official records · ERA16FA161
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn April 18, 2016, about 1910 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172C, N1863Y, collided with trees and terrain during takeoff from Sophie's Choice airstrip, Westmoreland, New York. The private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured, one passenger sustained minor injuries, and the airplane was destroyed by postcrash fire. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed near the accident site at the time and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which was destined for Griffiss International Airport (RME), Rome, New York. Earlier that day, the accident pilot and the pilots of two other airplanes flew from a private airstrip near Poland, New York, to Boonville Inc., Airport (1NK7), Boonville, New York, where they landed uneventfully. The three airplanes subsequently departed from 1NK7 and flew to Sophie's Choice airstrip where they landed and secured their airplanes. The pilot-rated airstrip owner reported that, before departure, he suggested to the accident pilot that he begin the takeoff from at least just west of the "break" point of the runway, which allowed for about 1,344 ft of available runway (see figure 1). Figure 1 - Airstrip Overview with Annotated Positions The pilot of one of the airplanes that departed before the accident airplane reported seeing the accident airplane stopped on the side of the runway, about 1,150 ft from the departure end of the east runway (see figure 1). Using the radio frequency (122.7 MHz) that they had used throughout the day
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to takeoff on the grass runway given the conditions at the time; his excessive aft control input during the takeoff roll, which resulted in the aft fuselage contacting the runway surface; and his failure to attain sufficient airspeed and exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
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Browse: New York · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
