# NTSB CEN25LA128: Cessna 172S, N52243, Rusk, TX, March 16, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 16, 2025, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Rusk, TX
- Coordinates: 31.86882, -95.216988
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8688&lon=-95.2170&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199867
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA128
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199867/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199867
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA128

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control and adequate airspeed during the go-around, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 49 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 49 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the landing approach was stable, but during landing flare, he lost control of the airplane. The airplane pulled to the right and then to the left. The pilot attempted to regain airplane control but felt it was unsafe to continue with the landing, so he attempted a go-around at which time the airplane was near the left side of the runway. The pilot continued the go-around because the airplane was headed toward a tree line with too much power and momentum to attempt a landing. As the airplane approached the tree line, the pilot increased the airplane’s pitch attitude to climb above the trees, but the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall. The airplane stalled and impacted terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The owner reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N52243](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52243-2026-05-16), registration cancelled 2026-05-16, S/N 172S9145, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S9145
- Year built: 2002
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Skymates Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 2025
- Departed: GPM, Grand Prairie, TX
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: JSO, Cherokee County, runway 32, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 24, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 186 total, 186 in this make and model, 91 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: KJSO
- METAR: METAR KJSO 161655Z AUTO 31008KT 8SM CLR 16/M06 A3009 RMK AO2 T01631057=

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20250316013049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250316013049A), Mar 16, 2025: Cessna 172S, Rusk, TX, Destroyed. On March 16, 2025 aircraft [privacy data omitted] was involved in an accident when the pilot reported a strong wind on landing resulting in loss of control and…

## Other investigations on N52243 (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 CEN19LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA074), Jan 29, 2019: Cessna 172 (N52243), Grand Prairie, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilots of both airplanes to see and avoid the other airplane while entering the airport traffic pattern in visual meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 17, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199867. 2.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 691 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18868049&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - pilot information addendum (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 929 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18868231&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pilot%20Info_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - amendment mor (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18905650&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20MOR-Rel.pdf
- Pilot statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18868479&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18868059&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf

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.

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