Cessna 172R accident near Murphysboro, Illinois, June 18, 2024
On June 18, 2024 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 2003 Cessna 172R, registered N5335G, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Murphysboro, Illinois (Southern Illinois 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 pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 2024 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Murphysboro, Illinois · Southern Illinois Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172R, built 2003 · all 172Rs on the register
- Registration
- N5335G · registry record · serial 17281158
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during landing, he noticed the airplane was slightly left of the runway centerline. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder and full power; however, the airplane veered right. The pilot then attempted to correct the veer with left rudder; however, the airplane exited the left side of the runway. The pilot reduced the engine power to idle but was unable to stop before it impacted a runway distance remaining marker which resulted in substantial damage to the right lift strut. The pilot reported that 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 90 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 41 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 29, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,347.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 17, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 7,243 hours total
- Operator: Board Of Trustees Of Southern Illinois University
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18L, 6,506 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 12,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from KMDH, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMDH 182252Z 16007KT 10SM FEW046 FEW110 28/22 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP179 T02830222=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 8, 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 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | 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.