Cessna 172M accident near Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, December 25, 1997
On December 25, 1997 at about 1:08 am local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N12172, was destroyed in an accident near Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina (Raleigh-Durham Int'L airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Was loss of control of the airplane on initial climb after entering instrument flight conditions resulting in a turn opposite in direction from that given by ATC, and eventual collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 25, 1997 · about 1:08 am local time
- Place
- Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina · Raleigh-Durham Int'L
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N12172 · registry record · serial 17261858
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The single piloted Cessna 172, (N12172) launched into 400 feet overcast, 6 miles visibility in light rain and fog weather conditions, at night, and when queried by the Raleigh-Durham departure controller what his heading was, he responded, '172 has got uh a vacuum problem'. Contrary to departure instructions to commence a right turn after take-off, N12172 entered a left turn after take-off that continued for 2 1/2 minutes until ground impact about 1.3 miles northwest of the airport.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,282 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 4, 1997; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: RDU at 1:05 am
- Destination: FLO Florence SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 5R, 7,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 100° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.