Cessna 172M accident near Payson, Arizona, January 26, 2002
On January 26, 2002 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N5264R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Payson, Arizona (Payson Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane. A contributing factor was the premature raising of the flaps.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 26, 2002 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Payson, Arizona · Payson Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N5264R · registry record · serial 17263478
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an attempted go-around the airplane landed hard and came to rest inverted off the runway after the nose landing gear strut dug into the soft ground. On the landing flare, about 5-10 feet agl, a gust of wind moved the airplane from runway centerline. The pilot initiated a go-around, which included raising the flaps. He lowered the nose to a level flight attitude and noted a slight airspeed increase. The airplane simultaneously contacted the runway. After the airplane landed hard, it veered off the runway. The nose landing gear was sheared off and the airplane came to rest inverted. No mechanical anomalies were noted.
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
- Flight time: 176 hours in all; 79 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 91 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 6, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,817 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 16, 2002; 160 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P19 Chandler AZ at 3:45 pm
- Destination: PAN Payson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 5,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 4:30 pm from PAN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.