No fatalities

CESSNA 172 S accident at Sanford, FL, 4 Oct 2022

Sanford, FL, United States

On October 4, 2022, a CESSNA 172 S operated by EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY INC was involved in an aviation accident near Sanford, FL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's unstable approach, which resulted in a hard landing and impact with a runway threshold light. Also causal was the flight instructor’s failure to take remedial action to prevent the hard landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 16 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot's unstable approach, which resulted in a hard landing and impact with a runway threshold light. Also causal was the flight instructor’s failure to take remedial action to prevent the hard landing.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

PilotDescent/approach/glide path — Not attained/maintainedInstructor/check pilot

All Cessna 172 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 4 Oct 2022 CESSNA 172 S accident near Sanford, FL?

The pilot's unstable approach, which resulted in a hard landing and impact with a runway threshold light. Also causal was the flight instructor’s failure to take remedial action to prevent the hard landing.

Were there any fatalities in the 4 Oct 2022 CESSNA 172 S accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 4 Oct 2022 involved a CESSNA 172 S, operated by EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY INC, at Sanford, FL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's unstable approach, which resulted in a hard landing and impact with a runway threshold light. Also causal was the flight instructor’s failure to take remedial action to prevent the hard landing.