Cessna 172 accident near Clarion, Iowa, February 26, 2024
On February 26, 2024 at about 8:50 pm local time, a 1968 Cessna 172, registered N35719, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Clarion, Iowa (Clarion Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing flare in a crosswind with gusts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 26, 2024 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Clarion, Iowa · Clarion Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 I, built 1968 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N35719 · registry record · serial 17256932
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during landing at the destination airport, with the left and right main landing gear on the runway and the nose wheel elevated for the flare, she felt a gust of wind that “push[ed] the airplane suddenly to the right.” The pilot attempted to perform a go-around, however the airplane bounced twice, exited the runway to the right, impacted a dirt field, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 31 with wind 270° at 23 knots, and with gusts from 30 to 35 knots. The pilot further reported that the accident could have been prevented by having “better situational awareness” of the wind conditions at the destination airport.
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
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Evacuation during post (impact)
- Other weather encounter during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 102 hours in all; 102 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: October 30, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,447.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 16, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming Engines O-320-E2D (piston); 6,508 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CBF Council Bluffs IA at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14/3, 3,455 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 24 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.35 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KCAV
Weather report (METAR): KCAV 262055Z AUTO 24024G32KT 10SM CLR 24/M02 A2935 RMK A01
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – View of the left side of the airplane
Photograph 2 – View of the front of the airplane
Photograph 3 – View of the right side of the airplaneThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on May 16, 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Flightaware - Information | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Airplane Owner - Additional Question | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Cessna 172I Owner's Manual - Excerpt | 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.