Cessna 172H accident near Goliad, Texas, August 28, 2025
On August 28, 2025, a 1967 Cessna 172H, registered N8078L, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Goliad, Texas. It was a personal 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 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 28, 2025
- Place
- Goliad, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H, built 1967 · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N8078L · registry record · serial 17256278
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 27, 2025, about 1904 central daylight time, a Cessna 172H airplane, N8078L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Goliad, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he conducted a preflight inspection with no anomalies noted, and the airplane contained about 10 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel in each wing tank. During the initial climb when the airplane reached about 300 ft above ground level, the engine lost partial power. The pilot adjusted the throttle in an attempt to restore power but was unsuccessful and conducted a forced landing to a road. During the rollout, the right wing struck a light pole resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and right aileron. After the accident, the pilot found a spider nest inside the left fuel vent. The fuel selector was selected to BOTH tanks at the time of the loss of engine power. The airplane was retained for further examination.
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 engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,363.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 9, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Goliad TX at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from KVCT, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KVCT 272351Z 12008KT 10SM FEW048 32/23 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP164 60000 T03170228 10344 20283 56013
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.
Other NTSB records under N8078L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.