# Accident 20251207017839A: Cessna 172M, Pensacola, FL, December 7, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 7, 2025, 17:30 local time
- Place: Pensacola, FL
- Airport: Pensacola International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.4772° N, 87.1780° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4772&lon=-87.1780&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6542H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6542H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 203 total, 203 in this make and model, 58 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA26LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA062) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251207017839A

## Narrative

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

PILOT OPERATED A C-172 ON AN IFR FLIGHT FROM LFT TO PNS, TO ACCUMULATE FLIGHT HOURS NECESSARY TO MEET THE CROSS COUNTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR A COMMERCIAL PILOT CERTIFICATE.  THE FLIGHT INCLUDED CARRIAGE OF THREE PASSENGERS.  PILOT DID NOT LIST AN ALTERNATE ON FLIGHT PLAN AS REQUIRED BY 14 CFR §91.169.  PILOT HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING HEADING AND ALTITUDE ASSIGNED BY ATC GIVEN BY PNS APP CONTROL CAUSING A LOW ALTITUDE ALERT AND MISSED APPROACH ON THE FIRST RNAV RY8 IN TO PENSACOLA.  SECOND APPROACH ENDED IN A SUCCESSFUL LANDING BECAUSE OF THE HELP PROVIDED BY PNS APP CONTROL.  HOWEVER, AFTER REFUEL PILOT ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF TO RETURN TO LFT DURING NIGHT.  WEATHER AT TIME OF DEPARTURE WAS 200' OVC 1/4 MI FG. PILOT LOST CONTROL DURING CLIMB AND CRASHED IN TREES ON THE KPNS AIRPORT APPROXIMATELY 500' NORTH OF THE B5 TAXIWAY INTERSECTION.

## 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 ERA26LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA062), Dec 7, 2025: Cessna 172 (N6542H), Pensacola, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the critical angle of attack during initial climb which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

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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