Cessna 172A accident near Sarasota, Florida, April 25, 2007
On April 25, 2007 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172A, registered N7224T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sarasota, Florida (Hidden River airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of control during landing, and collision with objects. Factors associated with the accident were wind gusts and a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 2007 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Sarasota, Florida · Hidden River · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172A · all 172As on the register
- Registration
- N7224T · no longer on the register · serial 46824
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo, private certificated pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, and arrived at the destination airport with a gusting crosswind from the north. According to the FAA inspector who responded to the accident site, the pilot told him that after two failed attempts to land on runway 27, he decided to try runway 9. The inspector said the pilot landed long and fast, and that after touchdown, the airplane ran off the right side of the runway. The pilot reported to the NTSB that during landing a gust of wind picked up the left wing, and then the right landing gear lifted off the runway. He said that he was able to get the airplane back on the runway, but the next gust blew the airplane off the runway. Further down the runway the wing and wheel lifted again, and as the airplane entered the overrun area the right wheel scraped a concrete abutment, and he lost control, striking both wings on the ground, and hitting a tree with the right wing. According to the pilot, both wings were damaged beyond repair. No preaccident mechanical anomalies were reported. The airplane was not examined by the NTSB.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 50 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,531 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KGIF Winter Haven FL at 12:30 pm
- Destination: 22FA Sarasota FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,525 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.