Cessna 172M accident near Tampa, Florida, July 9, 1994
On July 9, 1994 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N5233R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tampa, Florida (Peter O. Knight Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER APPROACH DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 1994 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tampa, Florida · Peter O. Knight Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N5233R · registry record · serial 17263447
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT LOST PARTIAL ENGINE POWER WHILE CLIMBING TO CRUISE ALTITUDE AFTER DEPARTURE. WHILE MAKING A FORCED LANDING AT AN AIRPORT THE FLIGHT TOUCHED DOWN AT THE MID POINT ON THE RUNWAY AT 100 KNOTS. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE OVER RUNNING THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDING WITH A FENCE. THE BOTTOM SPARK PLUGS WERE FOUND TO HAVE EXCESSIVE ELECTRODE GAPS AND TO BE FOULED. AFTER CHANGING THE PLUGS THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND OPERATED TO FULL 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
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,618 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 20, 1994; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: TMB Miami FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from TPA, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.