Cessna 172 accident near Pleasant Valley, New York, December 27, 2020
On December 27, 2020 at about 8:20 pm local time, a 1961 Cessna 172, registered N8311X, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Pleasant Valley, New York (Sky Acres Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to failure of the magnetos, which were not overhauled in accordance with the manufacturer’s time specifications.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 27, 2020 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Pleasant Valley, New York · Sky Acres Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 C, built 1961 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N8311X · no longer on the register · serial 17248811
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings when the engine sputtered and lost all power while on final approach. The student pilot tried to restart the engine to no avail and subsequently made a forced landing in a wooded area. The airplane came to rest inverted in swampy terrain amongst trees. The magnetos were removed from the engine during the postaccident examination, and they failed to produce sparks when tested. Further examination of the magnetos revealed extensive corrosion present on the coil laminations between the coil and magnet. It is likely the rotor was unable to transmit electricity to the coil and therefore the magneto was unable to produce a spark. The magneto manufacturer maintenance manual and overhaul manual states the magneto time in service allowance is the time before overhaul for the engine or 12 years. The magnetos had not been overhauled and were 14 and 23 years old. No other engine anomalies were identified that would have prevented 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
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Magneto/distributor › Failure
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Owner/builder
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 38.7 hours in all; 38.7 in this make and model; 5.7 in the last 90 days; 1.8 in the last 30 days; 38.7 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 2, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,634 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 17, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor 0-300 SER (piston); 5,665 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,828 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from POU, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KPOU 271953Z 23005KT 10SM CLR 02/M08 A3028 RMK AO2 SLP251 T00221078
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on January 30, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Airframe and Engine Examination | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Magneto Examination | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpt from Champion Maintenance Manual | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 15 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.