# NTSB ERA22LA006: Cessna 172K, N78604, Williston, FL, October 6, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 5, 2021, 20:45 local (Oct 6, 2021, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: Williston, FL · KX60 Airport
- Coordinates: 29.354605, -82.470564 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3546&lon=-82.4706&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- 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: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA / FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104071
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA006
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104071/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104071
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA006

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain on approach which resulted in controlled flight into trees. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the approach path, the dark night conditions and the landing light being off.

## Findings

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

- [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md)
- [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: understanding/comprehension](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md)
- [Approach: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md)
- [Approach: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During a night instructional flight, the flight instructor simulated an engine failure while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. As the airplane approached the runway with the landing light off, the flight instructor noticed that they were low on the approach. When the instructor asked the student if the landing light was on, the student pilot promptly answered “no” and turned it on. The airplane struck trees at the same moment, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and tail. A review of meteorological and astronomical data revealed there was a broken cloud layer at 6,000 feet above ground level and the phase of the moon was a waning crescent with 1% of the Moon’s visible disk illuminated. Further review indicated that the Moon had set about 1 hour and 43 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N78604](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78604-2024-02-17), registration cancelled 2024-02-17, S/N 17257683, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K
- Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17257683
- Year built: 1968
- Airframe hours: 4341
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Ocala Aviation Services Inc, doing business as Ocala Aviation Flight Training Center
- Registered owner: Ocala Aviation Services Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 14, 2021
- Departed: OCF, Ocala, FL
- Destination: X60, Williston, FL
- Airport: X60, Williston Muni, runway 5, 6,669 × 100 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 28; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 4, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 623 total, 534 in this make and model, 593 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 13 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 17; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 30 total, 30 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KOCF, 17 nm away
- METAR: KOCF 060051Z AUTO 00000KT 8SM -RA BKN060 BKN120 25/22 A3004 RMK AO2 RAB43 SLP171 P0000 T02500222

## 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 20211005020139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211005020139A), Oct 5, 2021: Cessna 172K, Williston, FL, Substantial damage. Aircrew was performing flight instruction, on approach to runway 5 at the Williston Municipal airpot (X60). The aircraft hit a treetop approximately .5 miles…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104071. 13.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 7.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13808966&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20(Released)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Witness statements and interview summaries (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 127 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13809100&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statements%20and%20Interview%20Summaries-Rel.pdf
- Weather reports and records - usno sun and moon data (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 419 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13810293&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=USNO%20Complete%20Sun%20and%20Moon%20Data%20for%20One%20Day-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 4, PDF, 13 pages, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13808976&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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