# NTSB ERA26LA209: Cessna 172S, N5114Z, Harrison, NY, May 18, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 18, 2026, 13:25 local (17:25 UTC) - Place: Harrison, NY - Coordinates: 41.066953, -73.707566 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0670&lon=-73.7076&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 203015 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA209 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203015/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203015 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA209 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s excessive pitch up attitude during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 49 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student pilot reported that they were conducting a soft field takeoff when the student pilot applied excessive aft control yoke input, and the stall warning horn sounded. The flight instructor directed the student pilot to release some back pressure and pushed forward on the control yoke, which lowered the pitch attitude of the airplane. Subsequently, the student pilot aggressively reapplied what he thought was the appropriate amount of aft control yoke input and the airplane pitched up. The flight instructor attempted to correct for the excessive pitch up; however, she was unable to overpower the student pilot. The airplane stalled, rolled to the left and impacted the ground sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and vertical stabilizer. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5114Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5114Z), registered now, S/N 172S10927, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S10927 - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 10379 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 7, 2026, 28 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: HPN, Westchester County, runway 11, 4,451 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 26; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 59 total, 59 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 21; injuries: minor; flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 15, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 665 total, 451 in this make and model, 524 as pilot in command, 212 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 10 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: HPN - METAR: METAR KHPN 181756Z 17010G17KT 10SM CLR 28/17 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP201 T02830172 10289 20222 58013 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20260518007089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260518007089A), May 18, 2026: Cessna 172S, Westchester Cou, NY, Substantial damage. Cessna 172S, [privacy data omitted], sustained substantial damage during a dual instructional flight departing Westchester County Airport (hpn), white plains,… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203015. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20452886&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 579 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20452766&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N5114Z%20CFI%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Student pilot statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 340 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20452567&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N5114Z%20Student%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20453023&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.