Cessna 172M accident near Brookwood, AL
On February 16, 2024, a Cessna 172M (airplane) was involved in an accident near Brookwood, AL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- February 16, 2024
- Place
- Brookwood, AL
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.000°N, 87.000°W
- NTSB ID
- 20240217193809
Official records · ERA24LA114
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On February 16, 2024, at 1029 central standard time, a Cessna 172M, N9160H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Brookwood, Alabama. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A witness fishing on the Black Warrior river reported observing the airplane flying low up the river. The airplane collided with a set of powerlines, then impacted the water and sank. The witness said that by the time he reached the airplane with his boat, it was already submerged. Another witness reported the airplane was flying “level” and low over the river with its engine operating at a “high rpm.” The witness said that as he attempted to take a picture of the airplane, it collided with the powerlines. He then saw the airplane veer left and descend into the river. The airplane collided with a set of 1-inch diameter powerline cables (one neutral, one energized) that spanned the river and were about 60-80 ft above the water. The airplane severed the neutral cable. The energized cable was not severed, but according to a witness the power in her camper at an adjacent campground flickered momentarily when the airplane collided with the powerlines. The airplane was examined after being recovered from the river. The airplane exhibited substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage. The left wing remained attached to the fuselage and the right wing was separated. The empennage was separated just aft of the fuselage in one section, and the horizontal stabilizer, verti
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to see and avoid powerlines while maneuvering at low altitude.
More accidents in AL
- Beech C99, Jul 10, 1991
- Cessna 421A, Jun 22, 1983
- Cessna 421C, Jul 9, 2011
- Piper PA 31, Aug 14, 2016
- Beech 95-B55B, Dec 5, 1992
Browse: Alabama · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
