Cessna 172 accident near Poughkeepsie, New York, March 5, 2010
On March 5, 2010 at about 8:25 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N737HV, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Poughkeepsie, New York (Dutchess County 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 failure to maintain directional control during the landing flare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 2010 · about 8:25 pm local time
- Place
- Poughkeepsie, New York · Dutchess County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 N · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N737HV · registry record · serial 17269438
- 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 he was making an approach to land on runway 6. During the landing flare, a "gust of wind hit the plane" from the right and "lifted the nose" of the airplane. The airplane's left wing contacted the ground adjacent to the runway, followed by the main landing gear. The airplane came to rest in a snow-covered, grassy area adjacent to the runway. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. The reported wind at the accident airport, about the time of the accident, was from 360 degrees at 9 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
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 480 hours in all; 450 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 21, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,088 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 16, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,515 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Macarthur Air Incorporated
The flight
- Departed from: ISP Islip NY at 7:50 pm
- Destination: POU Poughkeepsie NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06, 5,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from POU
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.