Cessna 172S accident near Lancaster, California, November 9, 2025
On November 9, 2025 at about 8:05 pm local time, a 2002 Cessna 172S, registered N5199J, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Lancaster, California (General Wm J Fox Airfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 9, 2025 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, California · General Wm J Fox Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S, built 2002 · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N5199J · registry record · serial 172S9097
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On November 9, 2025, about 1205 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N5199J, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Lancaster, California. The pilot and passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was cleared by the local air traffic controller for a straight in approach for runway 06. Upon touchdown, the nosewheel dropped and bounced. The pilot was able to maintain control during the landing roll and slowed the airplane down to a stop on the runway. When he taxied to transient parking, he noticed that the airplane was hard to turn. After parking the airplane, he discovered that the nosewheel tire was flat and that the propeller sustained ground damage. A post-accident examination by a local repair shop revealed that the tunnel structure behind the firewall and the pilot and co-pilot side floorboards were substantially damaged. The airplane was secured for further examination.
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
- Ground collision during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,022 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 19, 2025; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Eight Ball Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 7:28 pm
- Runway 06, 7,201 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 12:00 pm from KWJF
Weather report (METAR): METAR KWJF 091956Z 06008KT 10SM CLR 25/00 A3023 RMK AO2 SLP229 T02500000
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.