# Fatal NTSB investigations: Cessna 172R

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 CEN24FA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA218.md): Cessna 172 · Gainesville, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jun 12, 2024 · N656MA · Substantial damage
  > The fuel pump manufacturer’s improper torquing of screws on the engine-driven fuel pump, which resulted in a disruption in the fuel system and a loss of engine power on initial climb.
- [NTSB WPR21FA258](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21FA258.md): Cessna 172R · Missoula, MT · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 1, 2021 · N2388L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed and exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at an altitude too low for recovery.
- [NTSB CEN19FA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA212.md): Cessna 172 · Oxford, MS · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · Jul 6, 2019 · N994CP · Destroyed
  > The student pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during a go around with a tailwind, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR18FA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA195.md): Cessna 172 · Deer Park, WA · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 13, 2018 · N24442 · Substantial damage
  > An in-flight breakup as a result of the airplane exceeding the structural strength of the airplane during a rapid descent that the flight instructor was unable to recover from following a collision with a large bird.
- [NTSB CEN16LA338](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA338.md): Cessna 172 · New Orleans, LA · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 28, 2016 · N984RA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper decision to continue a descent during a night visual approach a for landing which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the reduced visibility and pilot's disregard of the PAPI indications that the…
- [NTSB CEN14FA506](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA506.md): Cessna 172R · Okmulgee, OK · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 19, 2014 · N2435R · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance with trees and terrain.
- [NTSB CEN14FA453](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA453.md): Cessna 172R · Willoughby Hills, OH · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 26, 2014 · N4207P · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while returning to the airport immediately after takeoff, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and entering an aerodynamic stall during the turn. Contributing to the…
- [NTSB CEN13FA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA012.md): Cessna 172R · Simpson, LA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 15, 2012 · N2126R · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of airplane control while maneuvering between areas of precipitation during a night cross-country flight.
- [NTSB CEN12LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA109.md): Cessna 172R · Denton, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 20, 2011 · N987BT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's controlled flight into terrain while maneuvering at a low altitude in instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to perform a circling maneuver in weather below circling minimums instead of flying…
- [NTSB WPR11FA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA242.md): Cessna 172R · Wendover, UT · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 1, 2011 · N475ER · Substantial damage
  > The pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed during the downwind turn resulting in an aerodynamic stall, in-flight loss of control, and spin. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and exceedance of the approved weight and…
- [NTSB ERA09FA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09FA080.md): Piper PA-44-180 · Ft. Lauderdale, FL · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 6, 2008 · N118TP · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage
  > The failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other aircraft.
- [NTSB SEA08FA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08FA146.md): Cessna 172R · Monticello, UT · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 30, 2008 · N389ES · Substantial damage
  > The in-flight collision with mountainous terrain for undetermined reasons. *This report was modified on December 10, 2009.
- [NTSB NYC06FA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06FA071.md): Cessna 172R · Mitchellville, MD · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 22, 2006 · N3536C · Destroyed
  > The pilot's improper inflight planning/decision to attempt a landing in weather conditions below landing minimums, and his failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering. Factors in the accident were the fog and snow.
- [NTSB NYC05FA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05FA075.md): Cessna 172R · Armonk, NY · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 23, 2005 · N61AF · Destroyed
  > The flight instructor's failure to maintain the proper altitude\clearance during the approach, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. Factors in this accident were low ceilings, fog, and gusty wind conditions.
- [NTSB ATL03FA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03FA070.md): Cessna 172R · Cherokee, NC · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 28, 2003 · N35255 · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance, which resulted in an in-flight collision with mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB ATL02FA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02FA032.md): Cessna 172R · Tampa, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 5, 2002 · N2371N · Destroyed
  > The pilot's unauthorized use of an aircraft for the purpose of commiting suicide.
- [NTSB MIA00FA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00FA064.md): Cessna 172R · Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean) · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 6, 2000 · N156RA · Destroyed
  > The pilot's lack of total experience in instrument flight, simulated instrument flight, and night flight resulting in the pilot becoming spatially disoriented, and subsequent in-flight collision with water. Contributing to the accident was the dark night with…
- [NTSB NYC00FA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00FA058.md): Cessna 172P · Leominster, MA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 22, 1999 · N96273 · 2 aircraft · Destroyed
  > The student pilot's failure to see and avoid the private pilot's airplane. Factors included the student pilot's non-standard traffic pattern entry, the private pilot's failure to check for other traffic before turning onto final, and the position of the sun…
- [NTSB DEN00FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00FA009.md): Cessna 172R · Aspen, CO · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 23, 1999 · N9548A · Substantial damage
  > the pilot's improper decision to fly directly up the center of the valley and not circle climb to gain sufficient terrain clearance altitude. A factor was inadequate route performance planning by the pilot.
- [NTSB CHI99FA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99FA053.md): Cessna C-172R · Angola, IN · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 25, 1998 · N989CP · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB CHI98LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA204.md): Cessna 172R · Greenfield, IN · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 17, 1998 · N387MA · Substantial damage
  > the pilot's incapacitation due to a heart attack. A factor in the accident was the passenger's, a non-pilot, improper recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in an overload failure of the nose gear.

## 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."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('2072401'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?fatal=1&model=2072401

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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.
