Cessna 172 accident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 3, 2023
On August 3, 2023 at about 2:52 pm local time, a 2002 Cessna 172, registered N860TW, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Northeast Philadelphia airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain control during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 2023 · about 2:52 pm local time
- Place
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Northeast Philadelphia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 S, built 2002 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N860TW · registry record · serial 172S9220
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot receiving instruction reported that while on final approach, the airspeed became slow so he lowered the airplane nose to increase the airspeed. The airplane landed firmly at the runway threshold and bounced. During the recovery from the bounce, the flight instructor commanded a go-around maneuver. During the go-around, the airplane’s nose rose high, and the airplane yawed and rolled to the left. The airplane impacted the ground alongside the runway and nosed over. Post accident examination revealed that the vertical stabilizer, rudder, empennage, and left wing sustained substantial damage. There were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Nose over/nose down
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 7,674 hours in all; 1,944 in this make and model; 69 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 7,345 as pilot in command; 5,738 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 31, 2022
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 305.7 hours in all; 151.1 in this make and model; 11.7 in the last 90 days; 210.5 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 16, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,368 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 27, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tailwinds LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 4,999 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 am from KPNE
Weather report (METAR): KPNE 031454Z 20006G14KT 10SM CLR 25/16 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP199 T02500156 58012=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on January 25, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statements from FAA | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statement to NTSB Email | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Instructor Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | 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.