Cessna 172 accident near Homestead, Florida, March 9, 2024
On March 9, 2024 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 1975 Cessna 172, registered N5171H, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Homestead, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to carburetor ice as a result of the pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat in conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor ice.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 2024 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Homestead, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 M, built 1975 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5171H · registry record · serial 17265358
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the flight was intended for a “gender reveal.” After departing, the pilot and his passenger were in slow flight at an altitude of 300 ft above ground level (agl), looking for the house. When they found the house, the passenger became nervous about opening the window, so the pilot decided to cancel the reveal. During the climb out, the engine did not respond and the pilot made an emergency landing in a field. Postaccident examination of the fuel system and engine did not reveal any preexisting anomalies or failures that would have prevented normal operation. The recorded temperature and dew point near the accident site were conducive to “serious icing” at cruise engine power settings. The pilot stated that he did not use the carburetor heat before the loss of engine power. Based on this information, it is likely that carburetor iced formed during the climb out following the period of slow flight that preceded it, which resulted in a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing.
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
- Fuel related during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine bleed air system › Engine anti › icing system › Not used/operated
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 292 hours in all; 210 in this make and model; 292 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 8, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,154 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 2,580 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X51 Homestead FL at 9:00 pm
- Destination: TMB Miami FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from X51, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): 092353Z 20005KT 10SM CLR 27/22 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP125 T02670217 10306 20267 53002
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Forward view of airplane upside down showing airframe buckling
Photo 2 – Close up view of fuselage and wing damage.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on January 2, 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 - Pilot Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record - Engine Examination | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Saib CE-09-35 | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | 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.