Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172N near Newburgh, NY — 2026-03-03

Investigation ongoingERA26LA134
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Date
2026-03-03
Location
Newburgh, NY, USA
Airport
SWF
Aircraft
CESSNA 172N
Registration
N1560E
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

NTSB has not published a probable cause for this accident yet. Preliminary reports describe what happened; the cause is determined later, often 12–24 months after the event.

NTSB narrative

On March 2, 2026, at 1910 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172N, N1560E, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Newberg, New York. The flight instructor and student pilot incurred minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that, after performing a touch-and-go landing at New York Stewart International Airport (SWF), the engine was not producing the normal rpm. When he leaned across the cockpit to view the engine gauges, he saw the oil pressure was indicating zero. He then declared an emergency with air traffic control and asked to return directly to the airport. The engine then began to run extremely rough before it lost total power. He took over the controls from the student pilot and determined that the airplane would not be able to reach the airport. He then chose to land in the Hudson River close to the western shore, at the area with the most lighting. The flight instructor subsequently ditched the airplane among broken patch ice and struck some submerged structures, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage. The pilots extricated themselves from the airplane and were able to reach the shore. The airplane sank until the wings were awash, but remained largely afloat and was recovered the following day. The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Preliminary NTSB coding

  • Loss of engine power (total) · Enroute
  • Engine Failure Enroute
View NTSB preliminary report

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