Cessna 172P accident near Browns Corner, Virginia, December 20, 2025
On December 20, 2025 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N54576, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Browns Corner, Virginia (New Kent County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 20, 2025 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Browns Corner, Virginia · New Kent County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N54576 · registry record · serial 17275003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On December 20, 2025, at 1415 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172P airplane, N54576, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Quinton, Virginia. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot was operating out of New Kent County Airport (W96) Quinton, Virginia and reported that the preflight inspection, engine run-up, and taxi were normal. He performed several touch-and-go landings that were uneventful. Shortly after takeoff, as the airplane was climbing through 500 ft above ground level (agl), the engine rpm began to fluctuate. The pilot further described that, the engine did not “sputter,” but the rpm was “abnormal.” The pilot applied carburetor heat and attempted to troubleshoot the irregularity without success. As the airplane reached about 650 ft agl, it stopped climbing and began to lose altitude and airspeed. The pilot decreased the airplane’s pitch, established best glide speed, and identified an open field for a forced landing. While maneuvering on final approach to the field, the pilot realized that the field was very hilly and bordered with trees. The pilot attempted to make slight turns to increase the chances of a successful landing, but in the process, the airplane lost too much airspeed. Unable to make additional adjustments due to the low airspeed and altitude, the pilot fully extended the flaps and intentionally “planted” the landing gear hard into the mud so that the airplane would stop before impacting the trees. After touchdown, the landing gear created deep gouges in the field for about 100 ft before the airplane rolled into the tree line and came to rest. The hard landing and impact with the trees resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage; the right outboard wing was fractured downward, both wing struts were damaged, and the engine compartment was canted. The propeller and spinner were largely intact and did not exhibit any chordwise scraping or leading edge gouges. The airplane was recovered and retained for further examination.
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 engine power (total) during enroute defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Rick Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: W96 Quinton VA at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from RIC, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRIC 201854Z 15008KT 10SM FEW250 09/M04 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP224 T00891044
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N54576 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.