Cessna 172P accident near Den Helder, Nl, May 8, 2013
On May 8, 2013 at about 6:45 am local time, a Cessna 172P, registered PHACM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Den Helder. It was an aerial observation flight under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 2013 · about 6:45 am local time
- Place
- Den Helder, Netherlands
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- PHACM · no longer on the register · serial 17275454
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 8, 2013, about 0645 hours universal coordinated time, a Cessna 172P, Dutch registration PH-ACM, impacted the North Sea near Den Helder, Netherlands, during a photo reconnaissance flight. The pilot was fatally injured. The passenger (photographer) was not seriously injured. The local flight originated from the Den Helder Airport (EHKD), Den Helder, Netherlands. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Dutch Safety Board. This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by or obtained from the government of the Netherlands. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: The Dutch Safety Board P. O. Box 95404 2509 CK Den Haag The Netherlands Tel: +31 (0) 70 333 7000 Website: http://www.safetyboard.nl Email: info@onderzoeksraad.nl
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
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.