Cessna 172L accident near Montauk, New York, September 1, 1990
On September 1, 1990 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172L, registered N4324Q, was destroyed in an accident near Montauk, New York (Montauk airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT FAILED TO ATTAIN AIRSPEED DURING A GO AROUND, RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE STALLING AT A LOW ALTITUDE. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED TO AIRPORT MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL WORKING NEAR THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1990 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Montauk, New York · Montauk · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N4324Q · no longer on the register · serial 17260224
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXECUTE A GO AROUND, BECAUSE OF MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL ON THE RUNWAY. WITNESSES STATED THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 4 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY WHEN THE PILOT, 'ABRUPTLY PULLED UP, PROCEEDED SLOWLY, WAVERING AND DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY.' THE PLANE THEN TURNED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT AND CRASHED NOSE FIRST.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7B6 Warehouse Point CT
- Destination: 48N Montauk Point NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.