Cessna 172 accident near Sanford, Florida, February 15, 2019
On February 15, 2019 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 2009 Cessna 172, registered N572ND, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Sanford, Florida (Orlando Sanford Intl airport). It was an instructional 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 student pilot's failure maintain the proper pitch attitude during landing, which resulted in the airplane porpoising.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 15, 2019 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sanford, Florida · Orlando Sanford Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 S, built 2009 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N572ND · registry record · serial 172S10940
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo student pilot reported that, during final approach to land, he realized that the airplane was too high and that he had not added "enough flare." The airplane landed nosewheel first during the touchdown and then started to porpoise. The student conducted a go-around, entered the traffic pattern, and landed without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage aft of the firewall. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. About the time of the accident, the wind was from 100° at 3 knots, and the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 27L.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Student/instructed pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 58 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,677.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 30, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C2A (piston); 3,909 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SFB Sanford FL at 9:00 pm
- Destination: SFB Sanford FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27L, 6,647 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KSFB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 14, 2019. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | 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.