Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172S near La Verne, CA — 2025-02-23

Investigation ongoingWPR25LA102
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Date
2025-02-23
Location
La Verne, CA, USA
Airport
KPOC
Aircraft
CESSNA 172S
Registration
N137RJ
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
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 February 23, 2025, about 1420 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172S, N137RJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near La Verne, California. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the flight instructor, while conducting a simulated short field takeoff with a student, the airplane was taxied into position on the runway, then stopped. The brakes were held as engine power was increased using the throttle control. When the brakes were released to begin the takeoff roll, the left main landing gear wheel began to rotate as expected, however, there was a slight delay in the movement of the right main landing gear wheel. Shortly after, the right main landing gear leg collapsed. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing, horizontal stabilizer and elevator were substantially damaged, and the right main landing gear tubular spring was partially separated from the airframe. The airplane was retained for further examination.

Preliminary NTSB coding

  • Landing gear collapse · Taxi-into takeoff position
View NTSB preliminary report

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