Cessna 172D accident near Argyle, New York, November 2, 2001
On November 2, 2001 at about 7:10 pm local time, a Cessna 172D, registered N36SK, was substantially damaged in an accident 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 pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 2001 · about 7:10 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 172D · all 172Ds on the register
- Registration
- N36SK · registry record · serial 17250459
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that after takeoff, about 150 feet above the ground, the oil access door opened. The pilot decided to return for a landing, and made a left turn back towards the airport. During the turn, the airplane lost lift an impacted an alfalfa field about 1/2 mile short of the runway.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 642 hours in all; 31 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 3, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,014 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 2001; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1C3 Argyle NY at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 14 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from GFL, 8 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.