No fatalities

CESSNA 172 S accident at West Milford, NJ, 6 Oct 2025

West Milford, NJ, United States

On October 6, 2025, a CESSNA 172 S operated by AIR FLEET TRAINING SYSTEMS INC was involved in an aviation accident near West Milford, NJ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to adequate clearance from obstacles while maneuvering during the landing approach and the instructor pilot’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in the airplane contacting a tree and terrain. 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 failure to adequate clearance from obstacles while maneuvering during the landing approach and the instructor pilot’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in the airplane contacting a tree and terrain.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

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

All Cessna 172 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 6 Oct 2025 CESSNA 172 S accident near West Milford, NJ?

The pilot’s failure to adequate clearance from obstacles while maneuvering during the landing approach and the instructor pilot’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in the airplane contacting a tree and terrain.

Were there any fatalities in the 6 Oct 2025 CESSNA 172 S accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 6 Oct 2025 involved a CESSNA 172 S, operated by AIR FLEET TRAINING SYSTEMS INC, at West Milford, NJ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s failure to adequate clearance from obstacles while maneuvering during the landing approach and the instructor pilot’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in the airplane contacting a tree and terrain.