# Accident 20241219019149A: Cessna 172K, South Port, NC, December 19, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 19, 2024, 11:30 local time
- Place: South Port, NC
- Airport: Cape Fear Regional Jetport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.9329° N, 78.0706° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9329&lon=-78.0706&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7085G, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7085G) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172K (registry code 2072430, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 965 total, 889 in this make and model, 163 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA087) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241219019149A

## Narrative

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

FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT WERE COMPLETING THE STUDENTS FIRST INSTRUMENT FLIGHT LESSON. THEY WERE PRACTICING THE RNAV 23 APPROACH AT SOUTHPORT AIRPORT UNDER ATC CONTROL. AS THEY APPROACHED THE INITIAL APPROACH FIX THEY ENTERED A LAYER OF CLOUDS. THE STUDENT BECAME DISORIENTED AND BEGAN TO DRIFT OFF COURSE IN A DESCENDING TURN. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAITED TOO LONG TO TAKE THE CONTROLS TO RECOVER THE AIRCRAFT. THEY WENT FROM 3,000 FEET TO 1,500 FEET IN A DIVING TURN. IN PULLING OUT OF THE DESCENDING TURN, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STRESSED THE AIRFRAME AND WINGS CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT SKIN AND STRUCTURE.

## 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 ERA25LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA087), Dec 19, 2024: Cessna 172K (N7085G), Southport, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of aircraft control due to spatial disorientation, and the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision, which resulted in the subsequent overstress of the airplane during recovery.

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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