Cessna 172 accident near Panancea, Florida, November 22, 2009
On November 22, 2009 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N35638, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Panancea, Florida (Wakulla County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 the landing rollout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 2009 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Panancea, Florida · Wakulla County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 I · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N35638 · registry record · serial 17256879
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that the airplane "became uncontrollable" during the landing rollout. The airplane subsequently exited the left side of the runway, struck a tree, and came to rest in a ditch. The pilot further stated that the runway was "watery and soft." Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The nearest weather reporting facility, located approximately 25 nautical miles north of the accident location, reported winds from 140 degrees at 10 knots about the time of the accident.
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 (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 690 hours in all; 578 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 12, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 12, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2J0 Panancea FL
- Destination: 2J0 Panancea FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,590 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from TLH, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket 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.