Cessna 172L accident near Brockport, New York, August 13, 2001
On August 13, 2001 at about 2:55 am local time, a Cessna 172L, registered N7878G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brockport, New York (Ledgedale Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delayed go-around during the landing attempt. Factors included the dark night conditions and the pilot's inadequate preflight decision to fly to an airport with inoperative surface lighting.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 2001 · about 2:55 am local time
- Place
- Brockport, New York · Ledgedale Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N7878G · no longer on the register · serial 17257578
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
At the completion of a night, cross-country flight, the pilot attempted to land at his home airpark under dark night conditions. The rotating beacon was operating, and per the NOTAM in effect, the runway and taxiway lights were inoperative. The pilot made an approach, then went around because he could not see the runway "soon enough." The pilot made another approach, and again attempted to go around. Shortly after commencing the go-around attempt, the airplane impacted the ground about 300 feet to the right of, and 700 feet from the approach end of the runway. The impact point was also 50 feet to the right of the parallel taxiway. There were no mechanical malfunctions noted.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,221 hours in all; 312 in this make and model; 164 in the last 90 days; 49 in the last 30 days; 1,689 as pilot in command; 275 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 14, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,963 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 16, 2000; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AKR Akron OH
- Destination: 7G0 Brockport NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,205 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 am from ROC, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.