Cessna 172K accident near Moline, Illinois, February 19, 2023
On February 19, 2023 at about 3:10 pm local time, a 1969 Cessna 172K, registered N84688, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Moline, Illinois (Quad Cities Intl airport). 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 student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 19, 2023 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Moline, Illinois · Quad Cities Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K, built 1969 · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N84688 · registry record · serial 17258578
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo student pilot stated he was in the practice area and made the decision to return to the departure airport due to increasing winds. The pilot reported that on the landing rollout he felt a “large gust of wind” elevate the left wing making the airplane veer to the right. The pilot attempted to “pull back and brake.” The airplane exited the runway, and the left main wheel and strut impacted a runway sign which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A wind limitation in the flight school pre-solo packet states surface winds must be “less than 15 knot winds” and “less than 7 knot crosswind component.” The flight instructor did not list any limitations on the student’s initial solo endorsement. Five minutes before the accident, surface winds were reported from 230° at 17 knots, gusting to 26 knots. The student pilot was landing on runway 27. Runway 23 was closed at the time of the accident. According to the owner of the flight school, the student did not check in with her before launching to discuss weather and his flight plan as he was supposed to.
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 control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Contributed to outcome
- Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring › Oversight › Oversight of operation › Training organization
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 93.7 hours in all; 34.1 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 8.2 in the last 30 days; 9 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 44,781.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 9, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320E2D (piston); 4,504 hours total
- Operator: Quad Cities Aero, LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 10,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 17 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 9:05 am from KMLI, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMLI 191505Z AUTO 23017G26KT 10SM CLR 07/M02 A2983 RMK T00701020
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 6, 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 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Solo Limitations Sheet | 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.