Cessna 172S accident near Harrison, New York, May 18, 2026
On May 18, 2026 at about 5:25 pm local time, a 2009 Cessna 172S, registered N5114Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Harrison, New York (Westchester County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s excessive pitch up attitude during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 2026 · about 5:25 pm local time
- Place
- Harrison, New York · Westchester County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S, built 2009 · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N5114Z · registry record · serial 172S10927
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student pilot reported that they were conducting a soft field takeoff when the student pilot applied excessive aft control yoke input, and the stall warning horn sounded. The flight instructor directed the student pilot to release some back pressure and pushed forward on the control yoke, which lowered the pitch attitude of the airplane. Subsequently, the student pilot aggressively reapplied what he thought was the appropriate amount of aft control yoke input and the airplane pitched up. The flight instructor attempted to correct for the excessive pitch up; however, she was unable to overpower the student pilot. The airplane stalled, rolled to the left and impacted the ground sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and vertical stabilizer.
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 in flight during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 59 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 665 hours in all; 451 in this make and model; 212 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 524 as pilot in command; 301 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 15, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,379 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 7, 2026; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 7,389 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 11, 4,451 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from HPN
Weather report (METAR): METAR KHPN 181756Z 17010G17KT 10SM CLR 28/17 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP201 T02830172 10289 20222 58013
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The 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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on June 22, 2026. 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 | Flight Instructor Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Student Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | 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.