Cessna 172 accident near Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania, October 21, 2022
On October 21, 2022 at about 8:45 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna 172, registered N80619, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania (New Garden Flying Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The solo student pilot's improper landing flare and subsequent improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 2022 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania · New Garden Flying Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 M, built 1976 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N80619 · registry record · serial 17266673
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo student pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane “bounced” and that he attempted to recover but upon exiting the runway surface he pulled the yoke back resulting in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with the ground. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage the left wing, engine mount, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with 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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 23.6 hours in all; 22.8 in this make and model; 20.8 in the last 90 days; 2.8 in the last 30 days; 0.5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,250 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 7, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 E2D (piston); 10,402 hours total
- Operator: New Garden Flight Connection INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,693 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from MQS, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMQS 212035Z AUTO 17004KT 9SM CLR 16/M01 A3012 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 9, 2023. 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, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement to FAA | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photographs | PDF, 7 pages | 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.