On February 7, 2009, a CESSNA 172M operated by Rochester Air Center LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Le Roy, NY. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind during an aborted landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to land in gusting crosswinds in excess of the manufacturer's recommended crosswind limit. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot reported that a strong gust of wind pushed the airplane off runway 28 and into a snow bank during an aborted landing, causing damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer.
Incident
During an aborted landing to runway 28, a strong gust of wind pushed the airplane off the right side of the runway and into a snow bank, according to the pilot. The airplane sustained damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer.
Pilot Actions
The pilot had aborted two previous landing attempts before the accident. The pilot reported no deficiencies with the performance and handling of the airplane.
Weather Conditions
Winds reported at a nearby airport around the time of the accident were from 200 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 22 knots. According to the airplane's owner's manual, the crosswind limit for pilots with "average" ability was 15 knots.
Contributing factors
Causes
PilotResponse/compensationCrosswind correction — Not attained/maintained
Other contributing factors
Contributed to outcomeDecision related to condition
Related events
Same aircraft family
24 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172B
23 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172
18 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172
16 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172M (CK Aviation LLC)
9 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172
8 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172N
7 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172N (Tin Cup Investments INC)
24 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 172M
21 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 172P (Vascular Wings LLC)
18 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 172L (Ocala Aviation Services INC)
16 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 172L (Foothill Aircraft Sales and Service Inc.)
9 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 172N (Kimber 123 Holdings LLC)
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the 7 Feb 2009 CESSNA 172M accident near Le Roy, NY?
A pilot reported that a strong gust of wind pushed the airplane off runway 28 and into a snow bank during an aborted landing, causing damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer.
Were there any fatalities in the 7 Feb 2009 CESSNA 172M accident?
No fatalities were recorded in this accident.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 7 Feb 2009 involved a CESSNA 172M, operated by Rochester Air Center LLC, at Le Roy, NY.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind during an aborted landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to land in gusting crosswinds in excess of the manufacturer's recommended crosswind limit.
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