Cessna 172L accident near Grass Valley, California, January 18, 2024
On January 18, 2024 at about 8:40 pm local time, a 1972 Cessna 172L, registered N7250Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Grass Valley, California (Nevada County airport). It was a personal 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of control during the landing roll due to a malfunctioning brake for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 18, 2024 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Grass Valley, California · Nevada County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L, built 1972 · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N7250Q · registry record · serial 17260550
- 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 during the landing roll, he applied the brakes to slow down; however, the left brake did not function properly, and the airplane veered to the right of the runway. The pilot attempted aerodynamic braking and used full left rudder in an attempt to return the airplane to the runway centerline. The airplane continued to the right down an embankment, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Review of accident site photographs showed impressions from all three-landing gear in the dirt adjacent to the runway, with the right landing gear showing a more pronounced indentation in the dirt. due to heavy braking on the right side it is likely the right brake locked up. A postaccident examination of the brakes revealed improper retaining bolts securing the brake calipers; however, both brakes functioned normally. No other mechanical anomalies were found that would have precluded normal operation.
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 (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,988 hours in all; 1,480 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1,970 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 26, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,218 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 18, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MCC Sacramento CA at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,657 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from KGOO
Weather report (METAR): KGOO 182035Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 11/00 A3007 RMK A01
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR24LA078.