Cessna 172P accident near Massena, New York, June 26, 1994
On June 26, 1994 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N5435K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Massena, New York (Massena Intl Richards Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper compensation for wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 1994 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Massena, New York · Massena Intl Richards Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N5435K · no longer on the register · serial 17274109
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE PILOT TOUCHED DOWN ON RUNWAY 27, THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING LIFTED, AND THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT STATED '...I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO RECOVER BY ADVANCING THE THROTTLE AND USING AILERON AND RUDDER, BUT MY AIRSPEED WAS TO LOW....' THE RIGHT WING TIP HIT THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED AND THE LEFT WING HIT THE GROUND. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO PRE-IMPACT ANOMALIES. WINDS REPORTED AT MASSENA INTERNATIONAL AT 1050, WERE FROM 240 DEGREES AT 24 KNOTS WITH GUSTS UP TO 32 KNOTS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 117 hours in all; 117 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 71 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,407 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MSS at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 24 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from MSS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.