Cessna 172P accident near Lutz, Florida, September 20, 2002
On September 20, 2002 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N612CB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lutz, Florida (Tampa North Aero Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain visual lookout and clearance during taxi, which resulted in an on-ground collision with a building.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 2002 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Lutz, Florida · Tampa North Aero Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N612CB · registry record · serial 17275186
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was taxiing the airplane from the parking area and did not see a wooden post that was part of a porch on the FBO building to his left. The leading edge of the airplane's wingtip struck the post. Examination of the airplane revealed the left leading edge wingtip was damaged, and the wing spar was bent.
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: 90 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: May 24, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,969 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X39 Lutz FL at 1:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,541 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 080° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft; a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N612CB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.