# NTSB ERA25LA087: Cessna 172K, N7085G, Southport, NC, December 19, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 19, 2024, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Southport, NC - Coordinates: 33.932947, -78.070601 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9329&lon=-78.0706&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 20, 2025 - 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): 199495 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199495/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199495 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA087 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of aircraft control due to spatial disorientation, and the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision, which resulted in the subsequent overstress of the airplane during recovery. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025/cases.md) - [Wing structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The instrument training flight was conducted in instrument meteorological conditions. The private pilot receiving instruction said that he initiated a “slight turn to the left which spatially disoriented me. We ended up in a spiral, and then my instructor took over and recovered [the airplane].” The flight instructor gave a similar account and stated that he “allowed the situation to deteriorate too far before taking control.” After landing, a visual inspection of the airplane revealed substantial damage in the form of “plastic deformation” to both wings consistent with overstress. The flight instructor reported that prior to the accident the airplane required a “1-3 degree” input in the roll axis to maintain the desired heading. When the flight instructor was asked if he felt the discrepancy was significant enough to declare an emergency, abort the mission, or perform a precautionary landing, and he replied, “No. We noticed it and briefed it, but no. It was noticed, but not a grounding condition.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7085G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7085G), registered now, S/N 17258785, built 1969 (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: 17258785 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 10210 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 5, 2024, 26 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ILM - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Onboard weather, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2023; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 966 total, 889 in this make and model, 844 as pilot in command, 164 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 20; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 4, 2025; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 66 total, 66 in this make and model, 16 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 16 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 900 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KSUT - METAR: KSUT 191629Z AUTO 05016G23KT 10SM OVC009 13/12 A3015 RMK AO2 ## 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 20241219019149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241219019149A), Dec 19, 2024: Cessna 172K, South Port, NC, Substantial damage. Flight instructor and student were completing the students first instrument flight lesson. They were practicing the RNAV 23 approach at southport airport under… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199495. 4.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18829632&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form_JL%20For%20BR_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot and flight instructor statements (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18193187&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Crew%20Statements-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, CFI (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18192143&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20Jack%20Lawrence%20CFI-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 622 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18193134&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. --- 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.