Cessna 172XP accident near Factoryville, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1992
On September 5, 1992 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172XP, registered N1FZ, was destroyed in an accident near Factoryville, Pennsylvania (Seamans Field). It was an instructional 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 FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1992 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Factoryville, Pennsylvania · Seamans Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172XP · all 172XPs on the register
- Registration
- N1FZ · no longer on the register · serial R1722546
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE VEERED LEFT OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE. HE SAID BEFORE HE COULD APPLY RIGHT RUDDER, THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY ONTO THE SURROUNDING ROUGH GRASS TERRAIN. THE NOSE WHEEL HIT A DITCH WHEREUPON THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE PILOT STATED THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS.
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: student
- Flight time: 31 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,753 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 6, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 2,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 am from AVP, 1 miles away
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.