Cessna 172 accident near Quakertown, Pennsylvania, September 2, 1995
On September 2, 1995 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N7154T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Quakertown, Pennsylvania (Quakertown airport). It was an instructional 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 maintain directional control, and the pilot's improper use of the wing flaps, which resulted in an inadvertent stall, and contact with trees. A factor was the crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1995 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Quakertown, Pennsylvania · Quakertown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N7154T · no longer on the register · serial 46754
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS CONDUCTING TAKEOFF AND LANDING PRACTICE. ON HER FIFTH APPROACH, SHE ENCOUNTERED AN UPDRAFT, AND ADDED POWER TO MAKE A GO-AROUND. THERE WAS A CROSSWIND FROM THE RIGHT WHICH DRIFTED THE AIRPLANE LEFT, OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY TOWARD TREES. THE WING FLAPS WERE EXTENDED 40 DEGREES, AND WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO RETRACT THE FLAPS 10 DEGREES SHE INADVERTENTLY RETRACTED THEM 20 DEGREES. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DRIFT LEFT, OVER THE TOPS OF TREES AND WHEN SHE PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE TO STAY OUT OF THE TREES, THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND CRASHED.
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: student
- Flight time: 49 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,350 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 15, 1994; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UKT at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,201 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.