Cessna 172M accident near Churchville, Maryland, June 15, 2012
On June 15, 2012 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N73134, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Churchville, Maryland (Harford County Airport). 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 tractor operator's failure to confirm the landing airplane's position before entering an active runway, which resulted in a ground collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 2012 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Churchville, Maryland · Harford County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N73134 · registry record · serial 17267281
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was preparing to land at the airport and that he made radio calls on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) to announce the airplane's position on the downwind, base, and final legs of the traffic pattern. While on the landing roll, as the airplane traveled over a crest in the runway, the pilot observed a tractor crossing the runway from left to right. The pilot steered the airplane to the right to avoid a collision, and the airplane's left wing contacted the tractor, which resulted in substantial damage. The operator of the tractor stated that he heard the airplane's CTAF transmissions but proceeded to cross the runway because he assumed that the airplane was already clear of the runway. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane.
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
- Ground collision during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground equipment › Effect on equipment
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Airport personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 520 hours in all; 204 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 506 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 30, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,540 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 20, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ck Leasing Services LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 0W3 Churchville MD at 4:30 pm
- Destination: 0W3 Churchville MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 2,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from APG, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on July 19, 2012. 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 | Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 1 - Damage to Outboard Left Wing (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 2 - Damage to Inboard Left Wing (Courtesy of FAA) | 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.