No fatalities

CESSNA 172P accident at Elizabethtown, KY, 15 Oct 2022

Elizabethtown, KY, United States

On October 15, 2022, a CESSNA 172P operated by Tennessee Flyers, Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Elizabethtown, KY. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to continue the taxi without visual reference to the surface, due to his vision being impaired by darkness and glare, which resulted in the airplane’s departure from the paved surface and impact with a ditch. 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 decision to continue the taxi without visual reference to the surface, due to his vision being impaired by darkness and glare, which resulted in the airplane’s departure from the paved surface and impact with a ditch. Contributing was the flight instructor’s inadequate monitoring of the pilot.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

PilotEffect on personnelInstructor/check pilot

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 15 Oct 2022 CESSNA 172P accident near Elizabethtown, KY?

The pilot's decision to continue the taxi without visual reference to the surface, due to his vision being impaired by darkness and glare, which resulted in the airplane’s departure from the paved surface and impact with a ditch. Contributing was the flight instructor’s inadequate monitoring of the pilot.

Were there any fatalities in the 15 Oct 2022 CESSNA 172P accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 15 Oct 2022 involved a CESSNA 172P, operated by Tennessee Flyers, Inc, at Elizabethtown, KY.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's decision to continue the taxi without visual reference to the surface, due to his vision being impaired by darkness and glare, which resulted in the airplane’s departure from the paved surface and impact with a ditch. Contributing was the flight instructor’s inadequate monitoring of the pilot.