- Date
- November 2, 2001, 14:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place
- Argyle, NY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N36SKCessna 172D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 4, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO-01
- FAA report
- 20011102029649A
- Case key
- 53722
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that after takeoff, about 150 feet above the ground, the oil access door opened. The pilot decided to return for a landing, and made a left turn back towards the airport. During the turn, the airplane lost lift an impacted an alfalfa field about 1/2 mile short of the runway.
Factual narrative
On November 2, 2001, about 1410 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172D, N36SK, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Argyle, New York. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated that he took off from runway 21 at Argyle Airport (1C3), Argyle, New York. Shortly after departure, about 150 feet above the ground, the oil access door opened. The pilot decided to return for a landing, and made a left turn back towards the airport. The pilot added that due to strong winds, the airplane "lost lift," and it impacted the ground. The airplane came to rest in an alfalfa field about 1/2 mile from the airport. The nose gear, propeller, wings, and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot further stated that he did not experience any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
The reported wind at an airport about 8 miles northwest of the accident site, at 1353, was from 190 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 18 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N36SK
- Reported as
- Cessna 172D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17250459
- Airframe hours
- 5,014
- Engine
- Continental O-300, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Walter T. Fogg
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 4, 2001 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- 1C3 · Argyle, NY
- Airport
- 1C3 · Argyle Airport, runway 21, 2,400 × 100 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 68
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- March 3, 2001
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 642 total · 31 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 14 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- GFL, 8 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.