Cessna 172RG accident near Duanesburg, New York, April 29, 1996
On April 29, 1996 at about 8:36 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N9678B, was destroyed in an accident near Duanesburg, New York (Duanesburg airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the pilot to attain adequate airspeed (or abort the takeoff while there was sufficient runway remaining), which resulted in a stall after liftoff and collision with the terrain. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's distraction due to events related to incapacitation of an animal aboard the aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 1996 · about 8:36 pm local time
- Place
- Duanesburg, New York · Duanesburg · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N9678B · no longer on the register · serial 172RG0963
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and passenger boarded the airplane for a return flight to their home base. A dog, the passenger's pet, was strapped into a special harness in the rear seat. The passenger occupied the front right seat. Witnesses reported that the takeoff roll appeared to be longer than usual, and after liftoff, the airplane did not climb. The airplane then rolled right, and descended into trees about 3/4 of a mile from the departure end of the runway. The impact site was soft dirt due to recent rains. Rotational damage was sustained on the front surface of the propeller blades. Examination of the engine did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction. Investigation revealed that the dog's death was due to suffocation from ingestion of a plastic bag that contained bits of meat. The pilot and passenger respectively weighed about 200 and 300 pounds.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,169 hours in all; 257 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 1,108 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,429 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 1995; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4B1 at 8:36 pm
- Destination: N87 Robbinsvile NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 28, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 8 knots
- Sky: broken clouds at 700 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:41 pm from SCH, 11 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.
Other NTSB records under N9678B the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.