Cessna 172R accident near Llano, Texas, April 25, 2014
On April 25, 2014 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 1997 Cessna 172R, registered N9373F, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Llano, Texas (Llano Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the engine did not reveal any evidence of preimpact failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 2014 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Llano, Texas · Llano Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172R, built 1997 · all 172Rs on the register
- Registration
- N9373F · registry record · serial 17280160
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, before departure, the airplane contained about 24 to 26 gallons of fuel, and a pretakeoff engine run-up detected no anomalies. Shortly after takeoff, when the airplane was about 100 to 200 ft above ground level, the engine sputtered and experienced a total loss of power. The pilot attempted to land on the runway, but the airplane touched down in the overrun area, bounced, and landed hard. The airplane was examined a couple of days after the accident, and no fuel was found in the airplane; however, damage to the airplane likely resulted in fuel seeping from the tanks and into the ground before the examination. A subsequent engine run and examination did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 75 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,744 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 28, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AQO Llano TX at 6:30 pm
- Destination: GTU Georgetown TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,202 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 6:35 pm from KAQO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.