Cessna 172 accident near Pembroke Pines, Florida, August 4, 2023
On August 4, 2023 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1984 Cessna 172, registered N697FL, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Pembroke Pines, Florida (North Perry airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent rapid descent into terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 2023 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pembroke Pines, Florida · North Perry · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 P, built 1984 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N697FL · registry record · serial 17276100
- 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 two passengers were departing for a local flight when the accident occurred. Airport security video showed that shortly after the takeoff roll the airplane rotated and lifted off normally, but the airplane’s pitch rapidly increased during the initial climb, which continued to an altitude of about 125 ft. The airplane then began a roll to the left that quickly developed into a steep descent to impact with the flat terrain on airport property. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed that the propeller blades exhibited damage signatures indicative of engine power during impact. The cockpit front seat rails and their associated seat frame latches displayed no anomalies or evidence of aft seat slippage that would account for the high pitch angle during initial climb, and the weight and balance was within limits. The examination did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the flight controls or other airframe components that would preclude normal operation. The surviving passenger could not recall any details about the flight, and there was no onboard recorded electronic data available for review. A video study was performed using the security video footage and concluded that during takeoff and initial climb, there was a large wing angle of attack (AOA) preceding a bank to the left. Immediately before the left bank, the AOA was estimated to be 14.5°. Given this information, is likely that during the initial climb, the airplane exceeded its critical angle of attack, which resulted in a power-on aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control at an altitude that was too low to recover.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 98 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 500 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 27, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 20,373 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 8, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2G (piston); 18,987 hours total
- Operator: Aeroflyin CORP
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10R, 3,255 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KHWO
Weather report (METAR): METAR KHWO 041553Z 17006KT 10SM BKN034 BKN110 32/25 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP156 T03170250=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
15 documents, released by the NTSB on November 21, 2024. 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.
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.
