Accident Narrative
On February 3, 2025, at 1600 central standard time, a Cessna 172P (registration N62112) was substantially damaged during a landing at Outlaw Field Airport (CKV) in Clarksville, Tennessee. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was being operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight.
The flight instructor stated that the aircraft’s maintenance status was not recorded in the company’s scheduling software, allowing him to check out the airplane. He had flown the same aircraft 24 hours prior without any issues. For the accident flight, the instructor performed a brief pre-flight inspection. The student pilot reported arriving to find that the instructor had already completed the preflight. After waiting for winds to subside, they moved the airplane out and conducted a quick walk-around, followed by normal pre-taxi and pre-takeoff checks.
The flight departed and climbed to 3,000 ft msl, where it leveled off. Suddenly, the top engine cowling partially detached, blocking the forward view for both pilots. The instructor declared an emergency and returned to the airport for landing. During the landing attempt, the airplane touched down hard and exited the paved runway surface to the left. The left wing struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage. An FAA inspector confirmed the damage and reattached the cowling.
Aircraft and Maintenance Information
Examination of the cowling revealed that all fasteners were installed, but only about 50% could be securely fastened due to worn receivers. According to the operator, the airplane was in maintenance to repair a broken oil servicing door at the time. The operator also noted that the flight scheduling program was offline due to loss of internet connectivity, preventing entry of the aircraft’s maintenance status. The operator reported that while the airplane was under maintenance, the cowling screws were not installed.