Cessna 172S accident near Mansfield, Massachusetts, November 19, 2004
On November 19, 2004 at about 4:25 pm local time, a Cessna 172S, registered N2120M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mansfield, Massachusetts (Mansfield Municipal 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 pilot's improper decision to taxi on a closed taxiway, and his misjudgment of obstacle clearance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 19, 2004 · about 4:25 pm local time
- Place
- Mansfield, Massachusetts · Mansfield Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N2120M · registry record · serial 172S9627
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot, who had not flown for approximately 30 days, taxied the airplane to the runway for takeoff. When the pilot encountered barricades that were blocking an area of the taxiway closed for construction, he taxied around them. The left wing of the airplane then struck a construction vehicle parked on the left side of the taxiway. The airplane pivoted left and impacted the right side of the vehicle.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 23 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: King Aviation Mansfield
The flight
- Departed from: 1B9 Mansfield MA at 4:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from TAN, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N2120M 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.