Cessna 172M accident near Apopka, Florida, October 24, 2014
On October 24, 2014 at about 3:15 pm local time, a 1974 Cessna 172M, registered N1533V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Apopka, Florida (Orlando Apopka Airport). It was an instructional 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 student pilots improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing and loss of aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's delayed remedial actions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 2014 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Apopka, Florida · Orlando Apopka Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M, built 1974 · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N1533V · no longer on the register · serial 17263649
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight instructor, the student pilot was conducting touch and go landings. During an approach to land the stall warning horn sounded and the flight instructor told the student pilot to lower the nose of the airplane. As the airplane touched down it made a sharp turn to the right and the flight instructor announced "my controls" to the student pilot. The airplane "bounced" and contacted the grass to the right of the runway. The student pilot relinquished the flight controls to the flight instructor, who attempted to regain control of the airplane and conduct a go-around. The attempt was unsuccessful; the airplane veered off the left side of the runway, traveled down an embankment and collided with a hangar, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and the right wing. Neither the flight instructor nor the student pilot reported any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation prior to 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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown)
- 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 Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,857.5 hours in all; 539.7 in this make and model; 21.3 in the last 90 days; 7.3 in the last 30 days; 2,586.5 as pilot in command; 514.5 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 9, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,747 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 12, 2014; 811 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 2,912 hours total
- Operator: Apoka Aviation And Flight Services
The flight
- Departed from: X04 Apoka FL at 3:15 pm
- Destination: X04 Apoka FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,987 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from LEE, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.