# NTSB CEN26LA007: Cessna R172, N7354V, Mount Carroll, IL, October 5, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 5, 2025, 10:40 local (15:40 UTC) - Place: Mount Carroll, IL - Coordinates: 42.063463, -89.968026 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0635&lon=-89.9680&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 14, 2025 - 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): 201786 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201786/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201786 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA007 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during a go around in gusty wind conditions. ## 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 R172K, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072431), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Cessna R172K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072431), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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 R172K, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072431), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna R172K, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072431), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to land at the private airfield with a turf strip. A pilot on the ground had radioed to the pilot that the wind was estimated at 5 to 7 knots. The pilot reported that while on approach to land to the east with the flaps fully extended, the wind had increased to 10 knots, and the airplane was being pushed towards the north of the runway. The pilot performed a go around and attempted to gain airspeed to begin a climb. The pilot lost aircraft control as the wind picked up the right wing and turned the airplane to the north. The airplane entered a nose down descent until it impacted the ground. A postimpact fire destroyed the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The nearest weather reporting station reported a variable wind at 7 knots prior to the accident. After the accident, wind was reported from the southwest at 7 knots gusting 17 knots and was variable between 170° and 270°. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7354V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7354V), registered now, S/N R1722304, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA R172 (K) - Registry model: [Cessna R172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (registry code 2072431) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R1722304 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 4978 - Engines: Continental IO-360-K 195 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: King Daddy Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 2025 - Departed: KBMI, Bloomington, IL - Destination: LL07, Mt Carroll, IL - Airport: LL07, Herb Tautz, runway E, 2,400 × 80 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review January 1, 2025; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,115 total, 789 in this make and model, 1,115 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 7 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: KSQI, 23 nm away - METAR: METAR KSQI 051556Z AUTO 21007G17KT 170V270 10SM CLR 26/14 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP180 T02560139= ## 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 20251005015769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251005015769A), Oct 5, 2025: Cessna R172K, Mt Carroll, IL, Destroyed. On October 5, 2025, at 1045 CDT, the pilot in command (PIC) of [privacy data omitted] a Cessna C172K, landed at Tautz airport (LL07). The flight was conducted… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201786. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19501691&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20-%20CEN26LA007_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photo (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 549 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19498227&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=cen26la007%20photos-Rel.pdf - Wind data (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 423 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19497905&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=wind%20data%20ll07%20kbmi-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. --- 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.