Cessna 172C N1609Y

Summary

On 20 February 2025 at about 18:00 local time, a Cessna 172C registered N1609Y was involved in an accident near Argyle, New York, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 February 2025 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Argyle, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Argyle Airport (1C3)

Coordinates

43.2513, -73.4718

Aircraft

Cessna 172C

Registration

N1609Y

Category

Airplane

Year built

1962

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Argyle → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA25LA123

Nobody was injured.

The mechanic’s incorrect installation of the oil temperature gauge probe in the oil filter adapter and failure to test run the engine for oil leaks after the installation, which resulted in a total loss of oil and the pilot’s decision to perform a precautionary landing. Contributing was the pilot’s long/fast landing, which resulted in a runway overrun.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the accident flight was the first flight after an annual inspection was completed and a new oil filter adapter was installed. As part of the installation, the mechanic installed the oil temperature gauge probe into the oil filter adaptor housing. The engine was not test run and inspected for oil leaks following the installation. Before the flight, the pilot completed an engine run-up and prolonged taxi to ensure the engine was near operating temperature. During the run-up he did not notice any abnormalities and the engine gauges were indicating correctly. The takeoff and entrance into the traffic pattern were uneventful until the upwind leg when he noticed the oil pressure gauge indicated 0 psi and the engine made unusual sounds, but the engine was still running. He completed at 180° turn and set up for landing on another runway with a tailwind. The airplane was high and fast on approach, then landed long and ran off the end of the runway. The airplane nosed over in a snowbank and came to rest inverted resulting in substantial damage to both wings and empennage. After the accident, the pilot accessed the engine compartment and removed the oil filler cap where he observed no remaining oil in the engine. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed engine oil was observed covering the engine compartment, surrounding areas, and the leading edges of the airplane. Oil was added to the engine and a functional test run was completed. An oil leak was observed from the oil temperature gauge probe that was installed in the back of the oil filter adaptor. The oil temperature probe threaded into the housing, but the oil temperature probe was not seated properly and remained loose after the attachment nut was tightened.; it could not be seated without utilizing a specific adaptor fitting. The adaptor fitting was removed from the old housing and installed onto the new oil filter adaptor. After installation, the oil temperature probe seated properly.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.