Cessna 172L accident near Walters, Oklahoma, August 14, 2025
On August 14, 2025 at about 2:34 pm local time, a 1971 Cessna 172L, registered N2860Q, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (descent) near Walters, Oklahoma. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 2025 · about 2:34 pm local time
- Place
- Walters, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L, built 1971 · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N2860Q · registry record · serial 17259860
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 14, 2025, about 0934 central daylight time, a Cessna 172L, N2860Q, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Walters, Oklahoma. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations as a Part 91 personal flight. The pilot, who was an independent flight instructor at Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport, Lawton (LAW), Oklahoma, was allowed to use the airplane for pilot proficiency purposes by the airport authority. Airport personnel did not know of the pilot’s schedule for any flight training activity on the day of the accident since the pilot would solely maintain that schedule. An airframe and powerplant mechanic at LAW stated the pilot did not report any mechanical discrepancies with the airplane before the accident flight. Radar data showed the airplane departed from runway 17 at LAW, about 0833, and proceeded eastbound for about 10 miles before beginning a series of turns with relatively constant altitude and no large altitude deviations. During the last minute of radar data, the airplane made a right turn and proceeded northbound, decreasing in altitude and gaining airspeed until the radar data track stopped. The accident site and impact features of the airplane exhibited an airplane nose-down, high-speed, impact with terrain. The airspeed indicator, which was separated from the main wreckage, indicated about 155 kts. Accident site ground scarring contained a hole several inches deep within the ground consistent with the airplane nose that was surrounded by ground scars of the main landing gear wheels and both wings. The wings, fuselage, empennage, and control surfaces were all contained within the main wreckage. Both wings were crushed inward to their respective main wing spars and their wing flaps were in the retracted position. The airplane pitch trim was about in the neutral position. The propeller was separated from the engine and displayed rotational features of chordwise scratching and twisting.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during enroute (descent) defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: LAW Lawton OK at 1:33 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 am from LAW, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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.