No fatalities

CESSNA 172 accident at Carefree, AZ, 24 Oct 2020

Carefree, AZ, United States

On October 24, 2020, a CESSNA 172 operated by Robert W Smith was involved in an aviation accident near Carefree, AZ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

PilotAngle of attack — Not attained/maintained

All Cessna 172 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 24 Oct 2020 CESSNA 172 accident near Carefree, AZ?

The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Were there any fatalities in the 24 Oct 2020 CESSNA 172 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 24 Oct 2020 involved a CESSNA 172, operated by Robert W Smith, at Carefree, AZ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.