Cessna 172P accident near Cedar Key, Florida, July 7, 2001
On July 7, 2001 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N52452, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cedar Key, Florida (George T. Lewis airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper in-flight decision to abort the landing resulted in the collision with water. A factor was the variable wind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 2001 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cedar Key, Florida · George T. Lewis · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N52452 · no longer on the register · serial 17274334
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was on final approach to land when he encountered a tailwind causing him to overshoot the runway. The pilot attempted a go-around, and collided with water 125 feet from the end of the runway. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot. The pilot reported variable wind speed and direction conditions during the attempted landing. According to Cessna 172P airplane performance data, the approximate landing roll at a gross weight of 2,400 pounds is 540 feet. Runway 23 is 2,355 feet long. The pilot initiated a go-around approximately 1000 feet from the end of the runway.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,149 hours in all; 881 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 2,077 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 10, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,517.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 23, 2001; 78.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0320D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSFB Sanford FL at 12:45 pm
- Destination: Cedar Key FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 23, 2,355 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KGNV, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.