Cessna 172 accident near Crystal River, Florida, March 31, 2021
On March 31, 2021 at about 4:13 pm local time, a 1974 Cessna 172, registered N13632, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Crystal River, Florida (Crystal River-Capt Tom Davis F airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s inadequate compensation for a crosswind during landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control and a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 2021 · about 4:13 pm local time
- Place
- Crystal River, Florida · Crystal River-Capt Tom Davis F · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 M, built 1974 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N13632 · no longer on the register · serial 17262893
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country training flight, and reported that while touching down on the runway, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the left. The pilot attempted to compensate by applying right rudder, but it was not effective. The airplane came to rest on the left side of the runway, inverted, and sustained substantial damage to the right wing, empennage, and rudder. The pilot was seriously injured. While the pilot initially reported that he thought there might have been an issue with the airplane’s right rudder not functioning properly, he later stated that the airplane was functioning as designed.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 150 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,033 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 13, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aviation One
The flight
- Departed from: ORL Orlando FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 4,557 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,800 ft; scat at 3,900 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 12:15 pm from CGC
Weather report (METAR): KCGC 311615Z AUTO 25007KT 10SM SCT039 BKN048 BKN050 29/19 A3014 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on August 31, 2021. 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 | Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record - Additional Information for NTSB Form 6120_PILOT | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Certified Flight Instructor - Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Cessna Illustrated Parts Catalog - Model 172 Rudder Control System | PDF, 15 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | 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.