Cessna 172RG accident near Chester, Connecticut, October 21, 1995
On October 21, 1995 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N9412B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chester, Connecticut (Chester 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed, and his delay in aborting the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun and collision with trees. Factors relating to the accident were: the wet runway and hydroplaning conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 1995 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Chester, Connecticut · Chester
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N9412B · registry record · serial 172RG0815
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff roll on a wet runway, the pilot elected to abort the takeoff because, the airplane 'accelerated slowly.' He attempted to stop the airplane by retarding the throttle to idle, applied maximum braking and back pressure on the yoke. The airplane did not stop, and departed the runway, just prior to the end, continued down a 30 foot embankment and struck trees. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions. According to an FAA inspector, the pilot's experience in this make and model airplane was as a flight instructor with 2 persons on board with less than full fuel. The inspector reported the airplane was at maximum gross weight, a condition that the pilot had never experienced.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,294 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2,056 as pilot in command; 1,714 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,658 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3B9 at 11:50 pm
- Destination: ACY Atlantic City NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17, 2,566 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC96LA015.