# NTSB investigations: Cessna 172M: Low altitude operation/event

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB ANC25LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA023.md): Cessna 172 · Cantwell, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 10, 2025 · N5375R · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during a low-altitude maneuver which resulted in inadvertent ground contact and a nose over.
- [NTSB ERA24LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA114.md): Cessna 172M · Brookwood, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Feb 16, 2024 · N9160H · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to see and avoid powerlines while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB CEN22LA414](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA414.md): Cessna 172M · Fort Collins, CO · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 12, 2022 · N9049H · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain while intentionally maneuvering the airplane at low altitudes, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.
- [NTSB ERA22LA274](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA274.md): Cessna 172 · Brevard, NC · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 16, 2022 · N5064H · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude while maneuvering the airplane at a low altitude, which resulted in impact with trees and terrain.
- [NTSB WPR19FA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA080.md): Cessna 172 · Desert Hot Springs, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · Feb 6, 2019 · N20556 · Destroyed
  > The pilot's inadequate and/or improper preparation for the flight in which he selected an altitude too low to assure terrain clearance and resulted in an impact with terrain in turbulent downdraft conditions.
- [NTSB WPR18FA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA063.md): Cessna 172M · Ogden, UT · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 29, 2017 · N4395R · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the water while flying over a lake with glassy surface conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's use of three impairing medications.
- [NTSB CEN18FA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA011.md): Cessna 172M · Ramsey, MN · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 13, 2017 · N7CF · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to fly along the river at a low altitude contrary to applicable regulations and safety of flight considerations which resulted in the impact with the power lines. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inability to see the and avoid…
- [NTSB WPR14LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA230.md): Cessna 172M · Laytonville, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 6, 2014 · N1186U · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s impairment due to alcohol ingestion, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from trees during a low-altitude flyby.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('2072418')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND s.aircrafts_position = x.position AND s."tier2Number" = '220' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent")))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence?model=2072418

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