# NTSB ERA25LA114: Cessna 172P, N62112, Clarksville, TN, February 3, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 3, 2025, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Clarksville, TN - Coordinates: 36.621865, -87.414948 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6219&lon=-87.4149&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 10, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199673 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199673/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199673 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA114 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane, which allowed the partially secured engine cowl to separate in flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fuselage: aerodynamic fairings structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035350): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035350/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035350/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student pilot, who was on his second instructional flight, departed the airport and climbed to 3,000 ft mean sea level (msl) before leveling off. Suddenly, the top engine cowling partially detached, blocking the view of both pilots. The flight instructor declared an emergency and returned to the airport for landing. During the landing attempt with reduced visibility, the airplane touched down hard, exited the paved runway surface, and impacted terrain. The left wing sustained damage to the aileron and spar. The operator stated that the airplane was out of service in maintenance for a broken oil servicing door. The instructor reported that the airplane was not listed as being out of service for maintenance and that he checked it out before he conducted, “a brief preflight inspection.” Postaccident examination of the airplane showed that the engine cowling detached with 50% of the fasteners unserviceable due to worn receivers. A proper preflight inspection of the airplane, which is the responsibility of the pilot in command (in this case, the flight instructor), would have revealed the engine cowl anomaly. ## Factual narrative On February 3, 2025, at 1600 central standard time, a Cessna, 172P, N62112, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at the Outlaw Field Airport (CKV), Clarksville, Tennessee. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor stated that the maintenance status of the airplane was not grounded in the company’s scheduling software and he was therefore able to check the airplane out. He had flown the airplane 24 hours before with no issues. The flight instructor reported performing a “brief pre-flight inspection.” According to the student, he arrived at the airport and the instructor was already there and stated that he had already conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane. They waited for the wind to die down before beginning the flight. They pulled the airplane out and did a “quick walk around.” Once in the cockpit they conducted normal pre-taxi and pre-takeoff procedures. The instructor reported that they then departed and climbed to 3,000 ft msl and leveled off. Suddenly, the top engine cowling partially detached, effectively blocking the view of both pilots. The flight instructor declared an emergency and returned to the airport for landing. During the landing attempt with reduced visibility, the airplane touched down hard and exited the paved runway surface to the left. During the accident sequence the left wing struck the ground and was substantially damaged. An FAA inspector confirmed the damage and placed the engine cowling back on the airplane. All of the cowling fasteners were installed; however, only 50% of the fasteners could be secured due to worn receivers. According to the operator, the airplane was in maintenance to repair a broken oil servicing door; he also stated that the flight scheduling program was down due to a loss of internet connectivity, so the status of the airplane could not be entered. The operator reported that while the airplane was under maintenance the cowling screws were not installed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N62112](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N62112), registered now, S/N 17275214 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275214 - Year built: 1982 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: MidTN Aviation Academy LLC - Registered owner: Registration Pending - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Airport: CKV, Outlaw Fld, runway 17/35, 5,999 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 29; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 10, 2025; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 836 total, 50 in this make and model, 743 as pilot in command, 67 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 28; injuries: none; student; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 10 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: CKV - METAR: METAR KCKV 031952Z AUTO 21010G20KT 10SM CLR 23/11 A2992 RMK AO2 PK WND 20026/1935 SLP130 T02280106= ## 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 20250203001099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250203001099A), Feb 3, 2025: Cessna 172P, Clarksville, TN, Minor damage. On 2/3/25 the CFI was conducting flight instruction with a student who was on his second flight. The internet was down, and the CFI was unable to check the… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199673. 50.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18522898&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 21.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18523177&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Event%20Report%20Feb%2011%202025-Rel.pdf - Instructors clarification statement V02 (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 355 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18823411&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Instructor%20Response%20Letter%20v2-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - student pilot (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18525588&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20Record_Student%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - chief pilot (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18524657&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20Record_Chief%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - security video request (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 178 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18824515&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20Record_Request%20for%20Info%20and%20Security%20Video_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18524348&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Video of accident (item 8, TS, 23.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18524540&FileExtension=ts&FileName=IP%20Camera%2004_S20250203152905_E20250203153019-Rel.ts - Photo array_airplane damage (item 9, PDF, 4 pages, 666 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18525168&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array_N62112%20Damage-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.