# Accident 20240123001959A: Cessna 172N, Weston, FL, January 23, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 23, 2024, 18:45 local time
- Place: Weston, FL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.1496° N, 80.5099° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1496&lon=-80.5099&mi=10
- Aircraft: N737VC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N737VC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot, student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24FA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA096) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240123001959A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

A CESSNA 172N SKYHAWK, DEPARTED FROM NORTH PERRY HOLLYWOOD AIRPORT (KHWO) AT 18:30 (LOCAL) (23:30 (UTC)) FROM RUNWAY 10R AND ENTERED A RIGHT TRAFFIC PATTERN WITH A DEPARTURE WESTBOUND ON THE DOWNWIND LEG. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 12 NAUTICAL MILES, THE PILOT ENTERED A SHALLOW NORTHBOUND TURN. PER AUTOMATIC DEPENDENT SURVEILLANCE–BROADCAST (ADS-B), THE LAST RECORDED LOCATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROXIMATELY 0.06 MILES FROM THE I-75 (AND EAST OF MILE MARKER 28) AND 5.4 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF WESTON, FL. THE ADS-B DATA INDICATED AN ERRATIC ALTITUDE PROFILE. THE WRECKAGE INDICATES THAT THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED A POST-CRASH FIRE. THE RIGHT-SEAT PILOT TEXT MESSAGED HIS GIRLFRIEND (IN CALIFORNIA) 4 MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT STATING, “SO DARK NIGHT…U CAN’T SEE ANYTHING TONIGHT” ALONG WITH A PHOTO OF THE COCKPIT AND OUTSIDE VIEW.

THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED FOR TIME-SHARING (TIME BUILDING). THE PILOT SITTING IN THE LEFT SEAT FOR THE FLIGHT RENTED THE AIRCRAFT. THE SECOND PILOT WAS INVITED TO ACT AS A SAFETY PILOT FOR THE FLIGHT.

NO LOGBOOKS OR ANY OTHER PILOT RECORDS INDICATING FLIGHT TIME AND CURRENCY WERE AVAILABLE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB ERA24FA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA096), Jan 23, 2024: Cessna 172 (N737VC), Weston, FL, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilots’ spatial disorientation in dark night visual meteorological conditions, which resulted in their failure to maintain altitude and a subsequent descent and impact with a swamp.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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