Cessna 172M accident near Leroy, New York, March 18, 1991
On March 18, 1991 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N20360, was substantially damaged in an accident near Leroy, New York (Leroy airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE HARD LANDING MADE BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DECISION OF THE PILOT TO LAND ON THE RUNWAY DESPITE THE RUNWAY LIGHTING SYSTEM BEING PARTIALLY INOPERATIVE, AND THE LACK OF EXPERIENCE OF THE PILOT AT NIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 1991 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Leroy, New York · Leroy · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N20360 · registry record · serial 17261222
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS RETURNING FOR LANDING FROM A LOCAL NIGHT FLIGHT. THE PILOT WAS ADVISED SOME RUNWAY LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE AND CAR LIGHTS WOULD BE USED TO ILLUMINATE THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT HAD DIFFICULTY FINDING THE AIRPORT. HE ABORTED HIS FIRST APPROACH, BECAUSE IT DID NOT LOOK RIGHT. ON HIS SECOND APPROACH HE SAID, 'EVERYTHING LOOKED GOOD, I FLARED, AND THEN THE PLANE SUDDENLY HIT THE RUNWAY HARD. I TOOK OFF AGAIN AND MADE ANOTHER ATTEMPT...I MADE MY APPROACH, LANDED ON THE RUNWAY A GOOD DISTANCE DOWN THE RUNWAY AND PROCEEDED TO DIRECT THE AIRCRAFT TO THE GRASS.' AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE FAA REVEALED BUCKLING OF THE FIREWALL. THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF 103 FLIGHT HOURS WITH 7 HOURS IN THIS MODEL. HE HAD A TOTAL OF 4 HOURS NIGHT TIME. HE HAD FLOWN 2 HOURS IN THE LAST 90 DAYS AND 1 HOUR IN THE LAST 30 DAYS.
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: 103 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 413 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Golden Wings Aviation INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,645 ft by 28 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.