On January 16, 2015, a CESSNA 172L H operated by WEINZIERL RICHARD J was involved in an aviation accident near New Castle, PA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Pilot's inadequate control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During landing, the airplane veered left despite right rudder input, exited the runway, and inverted in a ditch. The pilot reported a locked left brake, but postaccident examination found no brake system anomalies.
Event Description
According to the pilot, the airplane touched down on the runway centerline and immediately began to veer to the left. The pilot applied right rudder pressure in an attempt to correct the deviation, but the airplane continued its leftward path. It departed the left side of the runway and came to rest inverted in a ditch. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and the right wing.
Pilot Report
The pilot indicated that the left brake "locked up" during the accident sequence. This was offered as a potential explanation for the loss of directional control.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the airplane was conducted. The examination revealed that there were no malfunctions or anomalies with the brake system that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident. The brake system was found to be in a condition consistent with normal functionality.
Contributing factors
Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot
Related events
Same aircraft family
24 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172B
23 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172
18 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172
16 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172M (CK Aviation LLC)
9 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172
8 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172N
7 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172N (Tin Cup Investments INC)
24 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 172M
21 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 172P (Vascular Wings LLC)
18 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 172L (Ocala Aviation Services INC)
16 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 172L (Foothill Aircraft Sales and Service Inc.)
9 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 172N (Kimber 123 Holdings LLC)
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the 16 Jan 2015 CESSNA 172L H accident near New Castle, PA?
During landing, the airplane veered left despite right rudder input, exited the runway, and inverted in a ditch. The pilot reported a locked left brake, but postaccident examination found no brake system anomalies.
Were there any fatalities in the 16 Jan 2015 CESSNA 172L H accident?
No fatalities were recorded in this accident.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 16 Jan 2015 involved a CESSNA 172L H, operated by WEINZIERL RICHARD J, at New Castle, PA.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
Pilot's inadequate control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion.
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