No fatalities

TEXTRON AVIATION INC 172S accident at Cottonwood, AZ, 20 Feb 2025

Cottonwood, AZ, United States

On February 20, 2025, a TEXTRON AVIATION INC 172S operated by EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY INC was involved in an aviation accident near Cottonwood, AZ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot undergoing instructions’ loss of aircraft control during landing, and the flight instructor’s failure to promptly intervene. 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 undergoing instructions’ loss of aircraft control during landing, and the flight instructor’s failure to promptly intervene.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedStudent/instructed pilotInstructor/check pilot

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 20 Feb 2025 TEXTRON AVIATION INC 172S accident near Cottonwood, AZ?

The pilot undergoing instructions’ loss of aircraft control during landing, and the flight instructor’s failure to promptly intervene.

Were there any fatalities in the 20 Feb 2025 TEXTRON AVIATION INC 172S accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 20 Feb 2025 involved a TEXTRON AVIATION INC 172S, operated by EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY INC, at Cottonwood, AZ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot undergoing instructions’ loss of aircraft control during landing, and the flight instructor’s failure to promptly intervene.