Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172 near Titusville, FL — 2025-08-15

Investigation ongoingERA25LA302
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Date
2025-08-15
Location
Titusville, FL, USA
Airport
TIX
Aircraft
CESSNA 172
Registration
N7205Q
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

NTSB has not published a probable cause for this accident yet. Preliminary reports describe what happened; the cause is determined later, often 12–24 months after the event.

NTSB narrative

On August 15, 2025, about 1415 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N7205Q, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Titusville, Florida. The pilot was seriously injured and the flight instructor received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the pilot, a preflight inspection was performed on the airplane and fuel onboard was 17.5 gallons. After about 40 minutes of flying, they returned to the departure airport to practice touch and go landings. While in the traffic pattern on the third touch and go, the airplane was in a descent, and when the pilot attempted to add power, the engine did not respond. The flight instructor stated that he noticed the tachometer was reading 1,000 rpm, but the throttle lever was fully in. He stated that the fuel selector was on both, the mixture was in the rich position, and the carburetor heat was “on”, but the engine did not respond. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and attempted to fly back towards the runway, but the airplane contacted trees about ½ mile from the airport property. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed several gallons of automotive fuel remained in the tanks of the airplane. The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Preliminary NTSB coding

  • Loss of engine power (partial) · Takeoff
  • Loss of Thrust on Takeoff
View NTSB preliminary report

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