Cessna 172N and Piper PA-28-161 accident near Immokalee, Florida, July 28, 2024
On July 28, 2024 at about 1:50 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172N (N734BH) and Piper PA-28-161 (N8580E), were involved in the same accident near Immokalee, Florida (Immokalee Regional airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s (of the high wing airplane) inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a ground collision with another airplane while taxiing.
The student pilot’s (of the high wing airplane) inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a ground collision with another airplane while taxiing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 2024 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Immokalee, Florida · Immokalee Regional · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172N, built 1977 · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N734BH · registry record · serial 17268722
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28-161, built 2015 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8580E · registry record · serial 2842414
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172N final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the low-wing airplane and the student pilot of the high-wing airplane both reported stopping for a short break while on solo, instructional, cross-country flights. After engine start, the pilot of the low-wing airplane reported checking for traffic in all directions before entering the taxiway and beginning his taxi toward the departing runway. The student pilot of the high-wing airplane reported checking for traffic to the right and announcing his taxi intentions over the common traffic advisory frequency, but did not look to his left before entering the taxiway. The pilot of the low-wing airplane could not recall if he heard the advisory statement nor if he made one of his own. The student pilot of the high-wing airplane did not see the low-wing airplane already established on the taxiway and coming from the left. As the student pilot of the high-wing airplane entered the taxiway the two airplanes collided. The low-wing airplane’s right wing impacted the high-wing airplane resulting in substantial damage to the low-wing and minor damage to the high-wing airplane. The pilot of each airplane reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with either 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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-161 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the low-wing airplane and the student pilot of the high-wing airplane both reported stopping for a short break while on solo, instructional, cross-country flights. After engine start, the pilot of the low-wing airplane reported checking for traffic in all directions before entering the taxiway and beginning his taxi toward the departing runway. The student pilot of the high-wing airplane reported checking for traffic to the right and announcing his taxi intentions over the common traffic advisory frequency, but did not look to his left before entering the taxiway. The pilot of the low-wing airplane could not recall if he heard the advisory statement nor if he made one of his own. The student pilot of the high-wing airplane did not see the low-wing airplane already established on the taxiway and coming from the left. As the student pilot of the high-wing airplane entered the taxiway the two airplanes collided. The low-wing airplane’s right wing impacted the high-wing airplane resulting in substantial damage to the low-wing and minor damage to the high-wing airplane. The pilot of each airplane reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with either 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 for the Cessna 172N from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incomplete action › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Student/instructed pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 74.8 hours in all; 74.8 in this make and model; 53.8 in the last 90 days; 20.7 in the last 30 days; 8.1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,026.3 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 15, 2024; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 D2J (piston); 13,844 hours total
- Operator: Wayman Aviation Flight School
The flight
- Destination: SEF Sebring FL
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from RSW, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KRSW 281353Z 15005KT 10SM CLR 29/25 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP189 T02940250
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28-161 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incomplete action › Pilot of other aircraft
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 72 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 13 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 8, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,433.3 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 26, 2024; 13.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,440 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 2,200 hours total
- Operator: Skyborne Airline Academy INC
The flight
- Destination: VRB Vero Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 7 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Postaccident view of airplanes’ collision
Photograph 2 – Postaccident view of airplanes’ collision
Photograph 3 – Postaccident view of low-wing’s wing broken through high-wing’s window
Photograph 4 – Damage to low-wing airplane’s wing
Photograph 5 - Damage to low-wing airplane’s wing
Photograph 6 – Damage to high wing airplane’s window
Photograph 7 – Damage to high wing airplane’s windowThe 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
7 documents, released by the NTSB on September 4, 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 (Low Wing) | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (High Wing) | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot's Statement, High Wing | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record A�� Email, Operator, Low Wing | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Memorandum for Record A�� Email, Operator, High Wing | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 8 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Video File | 3GP file | 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.