Cessna 172L accident near Poughkeepsie, New York, January 1, 2005
On January 1, 2005 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172L, registered N7180Q, was substantially damaged in an accident 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 inadequate preflight, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 1, 2005 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Poughkeepsie, New York · Dutchess County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N7180Q · no longer on the register · serial 17260480
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After takeoff, the pilot completed one traffic pattern, performed a touch-and-go landing, and was on climb-out when the engine stopped producing power about 200 feet above ground level. As the pilot maneuvered it back towards the airport, the airplane struck a tree and a fence on the airport perimeter. Post-crash examination revealed that the gascolator drain valve would not actuate, and would not drain fuel. The bowl was removed, and it contained water, rust, and debris, with a thin film of fuel on top. The carburetor was drained, and the mixture collected was about 50 percent fuel, and 50 percent water. The contents of the left fuel tank could not be examined due to impact damage and the disposition of the wreckage. Fuel drained from the right tank contained water. After the airplane was recovered, a can of aviation gasoline was plumbed into the airplane's fuel system. The engine started immediately, and ran continuously without interruption.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,446 hours in all; 504 in this make and model; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 20, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,083.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 10, 2004; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: POU Poughkeepsie NY at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 5,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.46 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from POU, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.