Cessna 172M accident near Brooksville, Florida, February 20, 1997
On February 20, 1997 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N9987V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brooksville, Florida (Hernando County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
inadequate supervision by the flight instructor (CFI), and his failure to ensure that adequate airspeed was obtained/maintained, which resulted in a stall and collision with the ground. The crosswind was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 1997 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Brooksville, Florida · Hernando County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9987V · registry record · serial 17264605
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor (CFI) stated that a maximum performance/short field takeoff was being attempted. During takeoff, the airplane lifted off at the power-on stall speed, 35 knots, and climbed to approximately 30 feet above the ground. At 30 feet, the 'airplane began to mush', and the certified flight instructor (CFI) took the controls. Although he maintained full power, the airplane continued to descend and slowly turn to the left. According to a witness, the airplane stalled and drifted left in a strong crosswind. The CFI reported the winds were from approximately 120 degrees at 10 knots. Rescue personnel commented the winds were from the south.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,480 hours in all; 2,800 in this make and model; 131 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days; 5,333 as pilot in command; 3,387 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,290 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 19, 1997; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PIE St Petersburg FL at 6:30 pm
- Destination: BKV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 7,001 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from BKV, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL97LA043.