Cessna 172 accident near Gulf Shores, Alabama, May 13, 2021
On May 13, 2021 at about 10:50 pm local time, a 1980 Cessna 172, registered N5170K, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Gulf Shores, Alabama (Jack Edwards Ntl airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a loss of control during an attempted go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 2021 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Gulf Shores, Alabama · Jack Edwards Ntl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 N, built 1980 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5170K · no longer on the register · serial 17273997
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student pilot were approaching the runway for landing. The flight instructor described that during the landing flare, the airplane drifted to the left of the runway centerline, and as the student attempted to apply corrective control inputs, the flight instructor told the student to abort the landing. After the student hesitated, the flight instructor took control of the airplane while it was “…in a nose high attitude, slow and banked left.” The flight instructor increased engine power to full, retracted the flaps to 20 degrees, but noted that the airplane was slow and struggling to climb. The flight instructor then lost directional control of the airplane and elected to continue straight ahead and land. The airplane came to rest in a grassy area off the left side of the runway and the fuselage and wings were substantially damaged. The flight instructor stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane 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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,244 hours in all; 604 in this make and model; 230 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 1,207 as pilot in command; 641 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 21, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 3 hours in all; 3 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 8, 2021; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skywarrior Flight Training INC
The flight
- Departed from: CQF Fairhope AL at 9:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09/2, 6,962 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from KJKA
Weather report (METAR): KJKA 132255Z AUTO 02003KT 10SM BKN038 23/14 A3014 RMK AO2 T02250140
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on August 10, 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Occupant Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | 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.