Cessna 172R accident near Shelter Island, New York, August 25, 2013
On August 25, 2013 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172R, registered N392ES, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Shelter Island, New York (Klenawicus Airfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot did not attain the proper touchdown point on the runway, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 2013 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Shelter Island, New York · Klenawicus Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172R · all 172Rs on the register
- Registration
- N392ES · no longer on the register · serial 17280132
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
In an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot stated that he had aborted two previous landing attempts, and landed “long” on the 1,700-foot turf runway. The airplane passed over a “hump” in the runway, became airborne again, touched down, and the pilot applied the brakes. The braking action was ineffective due to the freshly-cut grass clippings on the runway, and the pilot steered the airplane into thick brush and a pond rather than overrun the departure end of the runway. Interpolation of the airplane manufacturer’s landing distance chart revealed that the required landing distance over a 50-foot obstacle was approximately 1,300 feet. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 303 hours in all; 303 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,030 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 8, 2013
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming I0360 SER A&C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Richmond Pilots CORP
The flight
- Departed from: HTO East Hampton NY at 6:05 pm
- Destination: PVT Shelter Island NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 1,700 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from HTO, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.