Cessna 172 accident near Hernando, Florida, June 20, 2024
On June 20, 2024 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1975 Cessna 172, registered N72CM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Hernando, Florida (Twelve Oaks Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadvertent throttle input during landing which resulted in a runway overrun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 2024 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hernando, Florida · Twelve Oaks Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 M, built 1975 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N72CM · no longer on the register · serial 17266517
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting to land and noted that the airplane seemed to be flying “fast.” She described that while she believed that the wind conditions were favoring the runway selected for landing, she also noted that a gusting crosswind was present. During the landing, when she reached to adjust the flap setting, she inadvertently increased the throttle. She responded by applying braking, but the airplane ultimately departed the end of the runway and impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and that instead of landing at the accident airport, she should have diverted to an airport with a longer runway that was more oriented into the wind.
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 on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,218 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,945 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 22, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,278.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 20, 2024; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 2,582 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BKV Brooksville FL at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from INF, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KINF 201955Z AUTO 09011G17KT 7SM SCT050 SCT070 SCT075 32/22 A3012 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Aircraft postaccident
Photograph 2 – Right Wing postaccident damage
Photograph 3 – Left side postaccident damageThe 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 22, 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.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 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.