# NTSB ERA25LA213: Cessna 172N, N6317D, Murfreesboro, TN, May 22, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 22, 2025, 11:40 local (16:40 UTC)
- Place: Murfreesboro, TN · Paved runway excursion off into the grass.

- Coordinates: 35.878654, -86.377468
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8787&lon=-86.3775&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 14, 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): 200212
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA213
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200212/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200212
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA213

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while attempting to take off in a gusty crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## Findings

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

- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [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)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot stated that he was attempting to take off in a left quartering crosswind with significant gusts. During the takeoff roll, the wind struck the airplane hard, and the pilot attempted to correct with rudder input, but overcompensated. The airplane then turned left into the wind and departed the paved runway surface before it impacted runway lights and terrain. The airplane’s fuselage and left wing strut were substantially damaged during the runway excursion. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6317D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6317D), registered now, S/N 17272715, built 1979 (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: 17272715
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 17220
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Jkg LLC
- Registered owner: Jkg LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 25, 2025
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: MBT, Murfreesboro Muni, runway 36, 4,750 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 50 total, 50 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 13 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: MQY, 10 nm away
- METAR: KMQY 221656Z 29013G18KT 10SM FEW100 24/09 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP182 T02390094

## 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 20250522006319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250522006319A), May 22, 2025: Cessna 172N, Murfreesboro, TN, Substantial damage. On may 22, 2025, at 11:40 a.m. CDT a small aircraft veered to the left of runway 36 into the grass area striking a PAPI light and a taxiway sign during takeoff…

## Other investigations on N6317D (2)

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.

- [NTSB CHI03LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA103), Apr 11, 2003: Cessna 172N (N6317D), Carbondale, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot failed to properly recover from a bounced landing which resulted in the airplane porpoising.
- [NTSB CHI83LA427](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA427), Sep 6, 1983: Cessna 172 (N6317D), Carbondale, IL, substantial damage

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200212. 12.8 MB in all.

- Pilot's statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18824879&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot interview summary (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18827832&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Pilot%20and%20NTSB_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspectors overhead graphic (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 944 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18825769&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspectors%20Overhead%20Graphic-Rel.pdf
- Maintenance records excerpt (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18825263&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20Excerpt_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Airport security video of accident (item 5, AVI, 7.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18827669&FileExtension=avi&FileName=Airport%20Video-Rel.avi
- Investigative photographs (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18825253&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array_Airplane%20Damage%20and%20Accident%20Site%20N6317D-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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