Cessna 172C accident near Argyle, New York, February 20, 2025
On February 20, 2025 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1962 Cessna 172C, registered N1609Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Argyle, New York (Argyle 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 mechanic’s incorrect installation of the oil temperature gauge probe in the oil filter adapter and failure to test run the engine for oil leaks after the installation, which resulted in a total loss of oil and the pilot’s decision to perform a precautionary landing. Contributing was the pilot’s long/fast landing, which resulted in a runway overrun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 2025 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Argyle, New York · Argyle Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172C, built 1962 · all 172Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1609Y · registry record · serial 17249309
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the accident flight was the first flight after an annual inspection was completed and a new oil filter adapter was installed. As part of the installation, the mechanic installed the oil temperature gauge probe into the oil filter adaptor housing. The engine was not test run and inspected for oil leaks following the installation. Before the flight, the pilot completed an engine run-up and prolonged taxi to ensure the engine was near operating temperature. During the run-up he did not notice any abnormalities and the engine gauges were indicating correctly. The takeoff and entrance into the traffic pattern were uneventful until the upwind leg when he noticed the oil pressure gauge indicated 0 psi and the engine made unusual sounds, but the engine was still running. He completed at 180° turn and set up for landing on another runway with a tailwind. The airplane was high and fast on approach, then landed long and ran off the end of the runway. The airplane nosed over in a snowbank and came to rest inverted resulting in substantial damage to both wings and empennage. After the accident, the pilot accessed the engine compartment and removed the oil filler cap where he observed no remaining oil in the engine. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed engine oil was observed covering the engine compartment, surrounding areas, and the leading edges of the airplane. Oil was added to the engine and a functional test run was completed. An oil leak was observed from the oil temperature gauge probe that was installed in the back of the oil filter adaptor. The oil temperature probe threaded into the housing, but the oil temperature probe was not seated properly and remained loose after the attachment nut was tightened.; it could not be seated without utilizing a specific adaptor fitting. The adaptor fitting was removed from the old housing and installed onto the new oil filter adaptor. After installation, the oil temperature probe seated properly.
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
- Landing area overshoot during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 144.3 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 13, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,849.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 2025; 0.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 1,849 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1C3 Argyle NY at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 2,400 ft by 87 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 5°F (-15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from GFL, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KGFL 201753Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM BKN120 M07/M15 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP153 T10721150 11072 21228 58024
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident airplane inverted
Photograph 2 – Oil filter and adapter
Photograph 3 – Oil temperature probe
Photograph 4 – Oil temperature probe
Photograph 5 - Oil temperature probeThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on August 21, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record - Engine Examination Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Airframe Logbook Entry | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Engine Logbook Entry | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Oil Leak (Video, Mov Format) | MOV file | Download |
| 8 | Oil Leak (Second Video, Mov Format) | MOV file | Download |
| 9 | Oil Filter Adaptor Documents and Textron Ipc | PDF, 17 pages | View Download |
| 10 | NTSB Wreckage Release Form | PDF, 1 page | 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.