# NTSB ERA25LA118: Cessna 172, N1159K, Kennesaw, GA, January 29, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 28, 2025, 21:05 local (Jan 29, 2025, 02:05 UTC) - Place: Kennesaw, GA · RWY 27 - Coordinates: 34.013458, -84.588072 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0135&lon=-84.5881&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - 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): 199695 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199695/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199695 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA118 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate glide path and the flight instructor’s inadequate monitoring of the landing approach, which resulted in the airplane contacting the ground short of the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/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 172S, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/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 172S, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/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 172S, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, the student pilot had previously completed three-night landings to a full stop and taxi back during the dual instructional flight. On the fourth attempt, the instructor elected to simulate a loss of engine power. While on final approach, the student pilot aligned the airplane with the runway centerline, and the flight instructor thought that the airplane would be able to reach the runway threshold. As the airplane approached the runway, the instructor described that the airplane was in a “flat position” and struck the ground, short of the runway. The nose landing gear was displaced upwards and aft which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane’s lower firewall. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot and instructor stated that they believed that the runway end identifier lights were not operating during their flight and that only the two outer left and right green lights were illuminated for the entirety of the flight, including the preceding three landings, which factored into their depth perception for touchdown. During correspondence with the student pilot following the accident, he provided an annotated aerial image where he circled the lights he believed to be inoperative at the time of the accident. According to the airport manager, the lights referenced by the student, which appeared to be the runway end and edge lighting, were operational at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1159K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1159K), registered now, S/N 172S10357, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S10357 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 7143.9 - Engines: Lycoming Engines IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Cavu Aero LLC - Registered owner: Cavu Aero LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 25, 2024 - Airport: RYY, Cobb County Intl/Mccollum Fld, runway 27, 6,295 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 66; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, waiver time limited special; last flight review September 22, 2024; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 4,405 total, 1,943 in this make and model, 3,560 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 28; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 52 total, 52 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: RYY, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KRYY 282349Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 07/M03 A3003 RMK AO2 SLPNO T00671028 10133 20067 53001 $= ## 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 20250128009569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250128009569A), Jan 28, 2025: Cessna 172S, Kennesaw, GA, Substantial damage. On January 28, 2025, at approximately 22:02 eastern standard time, a Cessna C-172 sustained substantial damage after landing short of runway 27 at Cobb county… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199695. 5.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18379556&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA118%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor email conversation (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18379460&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA118%20CFI%20Email%20MFR-Rel.pdf - Student pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 257 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18379470&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA118%20Student%20Pilot%20MFR_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airport manager emails (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18378099&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA118%20Airport%20Manager%20MFR-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 885 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18400355&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA118%20Photo%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.