Cessna 172L accident near Cleveland, Texas, January 29, 2023
On January 29, 2023 at about 9:38 pm local time, a 1972 Cessna 172L, registered N621EW, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Cleveland, Texas (Cleveland Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s decision to attempt the night flight under visual flight rules when instrument meteorological conditions prevailed resulting in the airplane striking trees while on final approach. Contributing to the accident were the unserviceable runway lights at the destination airport.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 29, 2023 · about 9:38 pm local time
- Place
- Cleveland, Texas · Cleveland Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L, built 1972 · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N621EW · no longer on the register · serial 17260545
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instrument-rated pilot was positioning the airplane in preparation for an annual inspection. The flight was conducted under night visual flight rules (VFR); however, instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed along the route of flight. The pilot reported that the cloud ceiling at the departure airport was about 700 ft above ground level (agl). The pilot inadvertently flew into clouds while en route and remained in instrument conditions for about 10 minutes. During the final approach the airplane descended below the clouds, but the pilot was unable to locate the airport and “saw only pitch black” with no visual references. The airplane subsequently struck trees shortly before the pilot intended to initiate a go-around. It subsequently came to rest nose down in a wooded area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A Notice to Air Mission (NOTAM) pertaining to the destination airport indicated that the runway lights were unserviceable during the time of the accident flight.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Runway lighting › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 329 hours in all; 304 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 219 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 6, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,520 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 8, 2022; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 4,479 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T51 Cypress TX at 9:00 am
- Destination: 6R3 Cleveland TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 5,001 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 340° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KCXO, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCXO 300353Z AUTO 34009KT 4SM BR OVC003 10/10 A3011
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on March 15, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records (Excerpts) | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Surface Weather Observations -- Conroe/north Houston Regional Airport | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Surface Weather Observations -- David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | NOTAM Data -- Cleveland Municipal Airport | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.