Cessna 172 accident near Sedona, Arizona, March 29, 2020
On March 29, 2020 at about 6:42 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna 172, registered N172FG, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Sedona, Arizona (Sedona 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’s loss of pitch control while landing in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a collapsed nose gear and departure of the airplane from the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2020 · about 6:42 pm local time
- Place
- Sedona, Arizona · Sedona Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 N, built 1976 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N172FG · registry record · serial 17267586
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that she overflew the runway to check the windsock and established the wind favored runway 21. The pilot entered the traffic pattern and reported the airspeed on final was 68-70 knots and the flaps we set to 30°. The pilot reported that immediately after touchdown, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot stated full right rudder and brakes were applied to correct the situation; however, the airplane continued to veer, exited the paved runway surface, and flipped over. The pilot stated the wind at the time of the accident was 130° at 9 knots, with variable gusts. A witness observed the landing and stated it looked like the airplane encountered windshear while in ground effect, and the airplane landed on the nose gear. The nose landing gear fork collapsed during the accident sequence and the pilot opined that the nose landing gear fork showed evidence of pre-existing cracks and corrosion. NTSB Materials Laboratory evaluation of the nose landing gear fork showed no evidence of pre-existing cracks, corrosion, or indications of any pre-existing damage, such as cracking or corrosion. that would have contributed to premature fracture. The fracture features to the nose landing gear fork were indicative of fracture from overstress and likely the result of abnormal runway contact on landing. The evidence is consistent with the witness observations that the pilot lost pitch control of the airplane during landing in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a landing on the nose gear and its subsequent collapse.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 124 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 60 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 23, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,818 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 3, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KGEU Glendale AZ at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 5,132 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 9 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:00 am from KSEZ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.