No fatalities

CESSNA 172 S accident at Philadelphia, PA, 3 Aug 2023

Philadelphia, PA, United States

On August 3, 2023, a CESSNA 172 S operated by Tailwinds Flight School was involved in an aviation accident near Philadelphia, PA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain control during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the flight. 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 receiving instruction’s failure to maintain control during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the flight.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Capability exceededInstructor/check pilotStudent/instructed pilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintained

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 3 Aug 2023 CESSNA 172 S accident near Philadelphia, PA?

The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain control during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the flight.

Were there any fatalities in the 3 Aug 2023 CESSNA 172 S accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 3 Aug 2023 involved a CESSNA 172 S, operated by Tailwinds Flight School, at Philadelphia, PA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain control during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the flight.