# NTSB ERA26LA014: Cessna 172, N1206U, North Lauderdale, FL, October 13, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 13, 2025, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: North Lauderdale, FL - Coordinates: 26.229843, -80.238646 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.2298&lon=-80.2386&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Lycoming Engines, FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 201849 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201849/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201849 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA014 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to a fuel delivery system leak, which allowed air to enter the fuel system. The source of the leak could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Approach: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that while returning from a local training flight, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. An emergency was declared, and the engine subsequently experienced a total loss of power. The flight instructor conducted an emergency off-airport forced landing, during which the airplane impacted a park bench structure before coming to rest on a wide sidewalk. The airplane sustained substantial damage to left wing, and left horizontal stabilizer. A postaccident examination of the engine by an FAA inspector found a significant leak at the fuel flow transducer inlet line/fitting. The fuel flow transducer and associated fuel line were sent to the manufacturer for testing, which revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1206U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1206U), registered now, S/N 172S10417, 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: 172S10417 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 11921.8 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Fxe Flightcenter Corp - Registered owner: Fxe Flightcenter Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, October 4, 2025, 3 hours before - Departed: FXE, Fort Lauderdale, FL - Airport: FXE - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 9, 2024; seat: right; flight hours: 1,259 total, 1,107 in this make and model, 1,193 as pilot in command, 134 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 10 total, 10 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 12 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: FXE, 4 nm away - METAR: METAR KFXE 131953Z 06012G18KT 10SM CLR 30/21 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP116 T03000206 $ ## 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 20251013015379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251013015379A), Oct 13, 2025: Cessna 172S, Margate, FL, Substantial damage. On Monday, October 13th, 2025, aircraft [privacy data omitted], Cessna 172S, serial no. 172S10417, was conducting a training flight with a student on board.… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201849. 45.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 17.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19739297&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA014%20Completed%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records excerpts (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 23.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19739307&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Logbook%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 865 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19741911&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA014%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Video of fuel leak (item 4, MP4, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19740345&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Video%20of%20Fuel%20Line%20Leak-Rel.mp4 - Memorandum for record a�� fuel line examination (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 714 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19741018&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA014%20Line%20Inspection%20MOR-Rel.pdf - Evidence control form (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 322 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19740717&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fuel%20Line%20Evidence%20Control%20Form%20Print_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 268 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19740801&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA014%20Signed%20Release-of-Wreckage-Form_Redacted-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.