Cessna 172M accident near Le Roy, New York, February 7, 2009
On February 7, 2009 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N3554Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Le Roy, New York (Le Roy Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind during an aborted landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to land in gusting crosswinds in excess of the manufacturer's recommended crosswind limit.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 2009 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Le Roy, New York · Le Roy Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N3554Q · no longer on the register · serial 17261672
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that a strong gust of wind pushed the airplane off the right side of the runway and into a snow bank during an aborted landing to runway 28. The airplane received damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer. The pilot had also aborted two previous landing attempts. Winds reported at a nearby airport, about the time of the accident, were from 200 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 22 knots. According to the airplane's owner's manual, the crosswind limit for pilots with "average" ability was 15 knots. The pilot reported no deficiencies with the performance and handling of the airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Snow removal service/equipment › Contributed to outcome
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Decision related to condition
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 142 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 83 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 30, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,776 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 12, 2008; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rochester Air Center LLC
The flight
- Departed from: ROC Rochester NY at 3:40 pm
- Destination: 5G0 Le Roy NY
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 28, 2,540 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 14 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from ROC, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.