Cessna 172S accident near Orlando, Florida, November 10, 2023
On November 10, 2023 at about 3:50 pm local time, a 2006 Cessna 172S, registered N91PF, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Orlando, Florida (Orlando Sanford International airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power during initial climb after takeoff for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 10, 2023 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Orlando, Florida · Orlando Sanford International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S, built 2006 · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N91PF · registry record · serial 172S10302
- 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 pilot receiving instruction were conducting a touch-and-go landing. The pilot receiving instruction landed long on the runway, then, during initial climb after takeoff, the engine exhibited a partial loss of power when the airplane was about 150 ft above ground level (agl). The flight instructor called for and took positive control of the airplane, then conducted an emergency descent straight ahead to land on the remaining runway. The airplane bounced on the runway at high speed near the departure end, and the flight instructor maneuvered it to clear an obstacle before landing it hard in the grass. Postaccident examination of the engine, ignition system, and fuel system revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would preclude normal operation. A review of the maintenance logbook excerpts revealed no open discrepancies.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Hard landing during landing
- Runway excursion during landing
- Unknown or undetermined during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,447 hours in all; 1,324 in this make and model; 194 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 1,310 as pilot in command; 1,111 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 6, 2023
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 306 hours in all; 195 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 203 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 6, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,095 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 6, 2023; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 4,685 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9L, 11,002 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from SFB, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSFB 101553Z 18008KT 10SM CLR 28/20 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP187 T02830200
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on September 3, 2025. 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 | Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector Engine Examination Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records (Excerpt) | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 3 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.