# NTSB ERA25LA164: Cessna 172N, N79514, Hickory, NC, April 1, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 1, 2025, 19:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Hickory, NC - Coordinates: 35.743384, -81.379581 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7434&lon=-81.3796&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - 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): 199950 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA164 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199950/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199950 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA164 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis After performing 3 takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern with a flight instructor onboard, the student pilot departed on a solo flight. He subsequently performed two more landings, and during the landing flare of the third landing, a gusting crosswind struck the airplane. After touching down, the airplane began to drift to the left, so the pilot elected to abort the landing. After applying full throttle and establishing the airplane in a climb attitude, the pilot described that he, “…was unable to put in the correct level of inputs, triggering a stall left spin, landing nearly nose-down off the runway.” The airplane’s left wing was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot did not report that there were any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N79514](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N79514), registered now, S/N 17268134, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17268134 - Year built: 1976 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: HKY, Hickory Rgnl, runway 06/24, 6,401 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3; last flight review April 1, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 58 total, 58 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: HKY - METAR: KHKY 012353Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 18/06 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP165 T01780056 10211 20178 53015 ## 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 20250401004609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250401004609A), Apr 1, 2025: Cessna 172N, Hickory, NC, Substantial damage. On 1 April 2025 at approximately 07:54PM (EDT), a Cessna 172 was substantially damaged at Hickory airport hky, off runway 24 approximately 306FT to the left of… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 28, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199950. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18806372&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20LA164_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18827680&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20FAA%20assessment%20LA164-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 889 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18806638&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos%20LA164-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.