# Accident 20241209020492A: Cessna 172S, Pahokee, FL, December 9, 2024 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: December 9, 2024, 16:30 local time - Place: Pahokee, FL - Airport: Palm Beach County Glades - Damage: Minor damage - Collision: Midair collision - Phase of flight: Landing: Approach - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 26.7958° N, 80.6945° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7958&lon=-80.6945&mi=10 - Aircraft: N497SJ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N497SJ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 172S (registry code 2072439, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming I0-360-B1E (registry code 41559, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0-360-b1e) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Reported engine: LYCOMING I0-360-B1E - People aboard: 3 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot, student - Pilot flight hours: 831 total, 779 in this make and model, 31 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA072) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241209020492A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. NTSB ACCIDENT NO.: ERA25LA072B ATQA: A-SO-19-25-011 SAS PTRS NO.: SO19202501498 TASK ID:T-SO19-FY25-0294 REGISTRATION: NXXXX MAKE: CESSNA MODEL: 172 SERIAL NUMBER: XXXXXX WHEN: DECEMBER 9, 2024 WHERE: PALM BEACH COUNTY GLADES (PHK) N26°47.44' / W80°41.64', N26°46.76' / W80°41.56' WHAT: ON DECEMBER 9, 2024, AT APPROXIMATELY 1630 LOCAL TIME, AIRCRAFT #1 (CESSNA) COLLIDED MIDAIR WITH AIRCRAFT#2 (PIPER) AT PALM BEACH COUNTY GLADES AIRPORT (PHK). AIRCRAFT #2(PIPER) SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE ON THE TOP OF THE FUSELAGE AS AIRCRAFT #1(CESSNA) COLLIDED FROM ABOVE WHILE TURNING BASE TO FINAL ON RUNWAY 18. AIRCRAFT #2 (PIPER) WAS ON FINAL APPROACH AT A LOWER ALTITUDE AT APPROXIMATELY 125FT. THE IMPACT MARKS ON AIRCRAFT #2 (PIPER) INDICATE THE LEFT-HAND WING OF AIRCRAFT # 1(CESSNA) IMPACTED THE TOP OF FUSELAGE CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TOP OF THE AIRFRAME CROWN AREA AIRCRAFT #2 (PIPER). IMPACT MARKS ON THE RH WING OF AIRCRAFT #2 (PIPER) INDICATE THE LEFT MLG OF AIRCRAFT #1 (CESSNA) IMPACTED THE TOP OUTER AREA OF WING SHOWING EVIDENCE TIRE SKID MARKS. ADS-B DATA SHOWS AIRCRAFT #1 (CESSNA) AT 450FT WHILE TURNING BASE TO FINAL WHILE AIRCRAFT #2 (PIPER) WAS AT 175FT ON FINAL APPROACH. A GO PRO VIDEO FOOTAGE WAS OBTAINED AND CLEARLY SHOWS AIRCRAFT #1 (CESSNA) WAS AT A HIGHER ALTITUDE WHILE PRACTICING SHORT FINAL APPROACHES; BOTH AIRCRAFT LANDED SAFELY, AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. FAA INVESTIGATORS RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AND INTERVIEWED BOTH PARTIES. RADIO COMM FREQUENCIES WERE VERIFIED ON BOTH AIRCRAFT. THE CORRECT UNICOM FREQUENCY ON THE VFH RADIOS WERE OPERATING NORMALLY. A RADIO CHECK WAS SATISFACTORILY ON BOTH AIRCRAFT. THE HANDHELD MIC WAS VERIFIED INOPERATIVE ON AIRCRAFT #1 (CESSNA). AIRCRAFT #1 YOKE PTT WAS VERIFIED TO OPERATE NORMALLY VIA HEADPHONE. HIGH WING VS LOW WING IS NOT A FACTOR. AIRCRAFT NUMBER #1(CESSNA) WAS HIGH WING AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT #2 (PIPER) WAS A LOW WING AIRCRAFT. ## Other aircraft in the event - N90874, Piper PA-28-181: [Accident 20241209020222A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241209020222A) ## 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 ERA25LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA072), Dec 9, 2024: Cessna 172 (N497SJ), Pahokee, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots' failure to see and avoid the other airplane, which resulted in a midair collision during short final approach. ## Other reports on N497SJ (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20180529015159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180529015159A), May 29, 2018: Cessna 172S (N497SJ), Kissimmee, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that approach to Kissimmee Gateway Airport was normal. During landing touchdown aircraft N497SJ bounced a couple of times and pilot performed a go… - [Accident 20161001016109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161001016109A), Oct 1, 2016: Cessna 172S (N497SJ), Fort Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. Aircraft N497SJ with one pilot and one passenger on board, took off from Fort Lauderdale executive airport (fxe) flying to punta gorda airport (pgd), FL when… - [Accident 20020112001729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020112001729A), Jan 12, 2002: Cessna 172S (N497SJ), Houston, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot departed airport for local practice and touch and goes. On second touch and go, pilot tried to raise nose to flare, nose did not come up,… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.