Cessna 172M accident near Brooksville, Florida, March 14, 2014
On March 14, 2014 at about 2:38 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna 172M, registered N80457, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Brooksville, Florida (Hernando 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 compensate for the reported crosswind conditions resulting in the wings contacting the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 2014 · about 2:38 pm local time
- Place
- Brooksville, Florida · Hernando County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M, built 1976 · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N80457 · no longer on the register · serial 17266596
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that his airplane was cleared to land on a runway with a 50-degree, 8-knot crosswind. At 10 to 20 feet above the runway, a "gust" blew the airplane to its left, the left wing struck the ground, the right wing struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest with substantial damage to the wings and the airframe. When asked, the pilot said the accident could have been prevented by requesting a runway with more favorable wind. He also reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that would have prevented 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
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 161 hours in all; 112 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 41 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,999 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 18, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,299 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dean International Flight School
The flight
- Departed from: KTMB Miami FL
- Destination: BKV Brooksville FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 03, 5,015 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from BKV
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.
Other NTSB records under N80457 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.