Cessna 172N accident near Madera, California, February 11, 2024
On February 11, 2024 at about 3:35 am local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N737LU, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Madera, California (Pine Mountain Lake 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 11, 2024 · about 3:35 am local time
- Place
- Madera, California · Pine Mountain Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N737LU · no longer on the register · serial 17269508
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported observing a dark layer of cloud just after takeoff and decided to avoid and return to the departure airport. When the airplane main landing gear contacted the ground, the pilot stated that the airplane veered to the left, exited the runway and nosed over before coming to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 330 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 2.2 in the last 90 days; 1.6 in the last 30 days; 133.6 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 8, 2022
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: unkn
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,130.5 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 22, 2023; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,447 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming O-320-H2A0 (piston); 11,130 hours total
- Operator: Riya Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KTCY Tracy CA
- Destination: E45 Groveland CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 3,624 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KMAE, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMAE 110153Z AUTO 12003KT 10SM CLR 10/04 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP211 T01000044
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 10, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.