# NTSB CEN25LA360: Cessna 172H, N8078L, Goliad, TX, August 28, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: August 27, 2025, 19:04 local (Aug 28, 2025, 00:04 UTC)
- Place: Goliad, TX
- Coordinates: 28.69142, -97.25774
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.6914&lon=-97.2577&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA - SAT FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200934
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA360
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200934/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA360

## Preliminary report

On August 27, 2025, about 1904 central daylight time, a Cessna 172H airplane, N8078L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Goliad, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he conducted a preflight inspection with no anomalies noted, and the airplane contained about 10 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel in each wing tank. During the initial climb when the airplane reached about 300 ft above ground level, the engine lost partial power. The pilot adjusted the throttle in an attempt to restore power but was unsuccessful and conducted a forced landing to a road. During the rollout, the right wing struck a light pole resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and right aileron. After the accident, the pilot found a spider nest inside the left fuel vent. The fuel selector was selected to BOTH tanks at the time of the loss of engine power. The airplane was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8078L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8078L), registered now, S/N 17256278, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H
- Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17256278
- Year built: 1967
- Airframe hours: 4363.7
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Reitz Enterprise LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 9, 2025
- Departed: Goliad, TX
- Airport: None
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: KVCT, 20 nm away
- METAR: KVCT 272351Z 12008KT 10SM FEW048 32/23 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP164 60000 T03170228 10344 20283 56013

## 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 20250827013619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250827013619A), Aug 27, 2025: Cessna 172H, Goliad, TX, Substantial damage. On August 27, 2025, at 18:30 CDT, the pilot stated that he performed his preflight inspection. After getting weather report from kvct, he attempted to take off…

## Other investigations on N8078L (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 CHI95LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA103), Mar 16, 1995: Cessna 172H (N8078L), Atkinson, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE GUSTY CROSSWIND. THE WIND WAS A FACTOR.

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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