Cessna 172R and Cessna 172S accident near Daytona Beach, Florida, July 18, 2003
On July 18, 2003 at about 1:35 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172R (N864CP) and Cessna 172S (N431ER), were involved in the same accident near Daytona Beach, Florida (Daytona Beach International airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the student pilot of N864CP to judge the clearance between his airplane and the stationary N431ER while taxiing for takeoff which resulted in a ground collision.
Failure of the student pilot of N864CP to judge the clearance between his airplane and the stationary N431ER while taxiing for takeoff which resulted in a ground collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 2003 · about 1:35 pm local time
- Place
- Daytona Beach, Florida · Daytona Beach International · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172R · all 172Rs on the register
- Registration
- N864CP · registry record · serial 17280594
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N431ER · no longer on the register · serial 172S9165
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172R final · quoted from the NTSB record
Both aircraft, N431ER a Cessna 172S and N864CP a Cessna 172R, were at the run-up area for departure on runway 25R. The Cessna 172R was positioned behind the Cessna 172S. The student pilot requested clearance for takeoff before and was instructed by the tower to maneuver around for takeoff. As the student pilot attempted to maneuver his airplane, his left wing struck the tail, rotating his airplane further left until his propeller struck the trailing edge of the right wing. Following the collision, the pilot and flight instructor shut down their engine, secured the airplane and the flight instructor proceeded to assist the student pilot in securing his airplane.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172S final · quoted from the NTSB record
Both aircraft, N431ER a Cessna 172S and N864CP a Cessna 172R, were at the run-up area for departure on runway 25R. The Cessna 172R was positioned behind the Cessna 172S. The student pilot requested clearance for takeoff before and was instructed by the tower to maneuver around for takeoff. As the student pilot attempted to maneuver his airplane, his left wing struck the tail, rotating his airplane further left until his propeller struck the trailing edge of the right wing. Following the collision, the pilot and flight instructor shut down their engine, secured the airplane and the flight instructor proceeded to assist the student pilot in securing his airplane.
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 for the Cessna 172R from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 91 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,381.5 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 11, 2003; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,457 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Phoenix East Aviation, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: KDAB Daytona Beach FL
- Destination: KDAB
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KDAB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 197 hours in all; 171 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 139 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 13, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,809 hours in all; 2,119 in this make and model; 132 in the last 90 days; 64 in the last 30 days; 2,733 as pilot in command; 2,520 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 7, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,229.2 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 14, 2003; 347.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
The flight
- Departed from: KDAB Daytona Beach FL
- Destination: KDAB
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N864CP 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.