Cessna 172 and Cessna 172 accident near Palm Coast, Florida, January 8, 2020
On January 8, 2020 at about 12:47 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172 (N536ND) and Cessna 172 (N550ND), were involved in the same accident near Palm Coast, Florida (Flagler Executive airport). 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 pilot's failure to allow adequate separation when passing the parked airplane, which resulted in a ground collision.
The student pilot's failure to allow adequate separation when passing the parked airplane, 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
- January 8, 2020 · about 12:47 pm local time
- Place
- Palm Coast, Florida · Flagler Executive · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172 S, built 2009 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N536ND · registry record · serial 172S10932
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172 S, built 2009 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N550ND · registry record · serial 172S10992
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A student pilot was taxiing his airplane into the runup area at what he thought was a safe distance from another airplane that was performing a runup. The moving airplane's left wing contacted the stationary airplane's propeller, resulting in substantial damage to the moving airplane's left wing. Neither pilot reported any preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with their respective airplanes that would have precluded 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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A student pilot was taxiing his airplane into the runup area at what he thought was a safe distance from another airplane that was performing a runup. The moving airplane's left wing contacted the stationary airplane's propeller, resulting in substantial damage to the moving airplane's left wing. Neither pilot reported any preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with their respective airplanes that would have precluded 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 for the Cessna 172 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › (general) › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 54 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,920.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 20, 2019; 63 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 3,636 hours total
- Operator: Phoenix East Aviation, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: FIN Palm Coast FL
- Destination: FIN Palm Coast FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from FIN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot of other aircraft
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Phoenix East Aviation, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: FIN Palm Coast FL
- Destination: FIN Palm Coast FL
- Flight plan: none
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.
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.