Cessna 172S accident near Kutztown, Pennsylvania, September 2, 2005
On September 2, 2005 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172S, registered N972SP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kutztown, Pennsylvania (Kutztown 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 failure to attain a proper touchdown point as a result of the airplane's excessive airspeed. A factor was the partial loss of engine power due to a seized exhaust valve.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 2005 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kutztown, Pennsylvania · Kutztown 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
- N972SP · no longer on the register · serial 172S8174
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While in cruise flight, the airplane's engine lost partial power and began to "run rough." The pilot elected to fly the airplane to a nearby airport. Because he was concerned that the engine might stop producing power, the pilot flew a higher than normal traffic pattern, landed with excessive speed, and subsequently overran the runway. The airplane then impacted a utility pole and a tree, resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the engine revealed that the number two cylinder exhaust valve had seized, which resulted in the partial loss of engine power.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 216 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 171 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,773 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2005; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Flight Services
The flight
- Departed from: RDG Reading PA at 12:30 pm
- Destination: RDG
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,460 ft by 240 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 12:54 pm from RDG, 12 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.
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.