Cessna 172L Skyhawk, N2860Q, fatal accident occurred on August 14, 2025, near Lawton, Oklahoma

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N2860Q

Lawton Metropolitan Area Airport Authority

- History of the Flight:

On August 14, 2025, at about 0935 local time, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, N2860Q, registered to the Lawton Metropolitan Area Airport Authority out of Lawton, OK, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Lawton, Oklahoma. The sole pilot onboard sustained fatal injuries. The local flight originated from Lawton Municipal Airport (LAW/KLAW), Lawton, Oklahoma. The exact purpose of the flight is unknown at the time of writing.

According to preliminary automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, at 0833 LT, the airplane departed runway 17 at KLAW and entered a climbing left turn to an altitude of 3,500 ft. At 0841 LT, the airplane started doing several loops southeast of Lawton, which continued until the end of the flight. The last ADS-B return was recorded at 0934:39 LT, the airplane was at 2375 ft, tracking north at a heading of 355.0°, 128 knots groundspeed, and descending -1600 fpm. The reported accident site was located 3.80 miles north of the last recorded data point. (figure 1)

Figure 1: ADS-B Track

- Pilot Information:

unknown at this point.

- Aircraft Information:

The accident airplane was a 1971 Cessna 172L, Skyhawk, serial number 17259860. The Cessna Skyhawk is an all-metal airplane that incorporates a semi-monocoque fuselage and empennage design. The airplane is equipped with externally braced wings, wing flaps, a fixed-pitch propeller, and a fixed tricycle landing gear. The airplane is configured to seat four occupants and has a certified maximum takeoff weight of 2,300 lbs.

The airplane was equipped with a 150 horsepower Lycoming O-320-E2D engine. The airplane was equipped for IFR flight.

- Wreckage and Impact Information:

The airplane impacted an open field and there was no post crash fire. The initial impact was identified by a small impact crater which proceeded to the main wreckage. Several broken pieces were located in the debris path leading to the main wreckage. The main wreckage consisted of the fuselage, both wings, and tail. The fuselage and both wings sustained extensive impact damage. The wreckage was oriented on a 180° heading opposite to the initial impact point.

Photo: KSWO news edited by me

- Weather:
The departure airport reported the following conditions at the time:

METAR KLAW 141353Z 15005KT 10SM CLR 26/22 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP143 T02610222

METAR KLAW 141453Z VRB06KT 10SM CLR 29/22 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP143 T02890222 50007

Uncontained engine failure: Lancair Legacy 2000, N707MM, registered to Air Horse LLC, and being operated by Michael Patey, incident occurred on July 20, 2023, near Rochester, Minnesota

• Location: Rochester, Minnesota
• Incident Number: ENG23LA034
• Date & Time: July 20, 2023, 14:42 Local
• Registration: N707MM
• Aircraft: HALL LESTER R LEGACY
• Aircraft Damage: Minor
• Defining Event: Uncontained engine failure
• Injuries: 2 None
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Air race/show

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192877/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192877

On July 20, 2023, at about 1:42pm local time, a Lancair Legacy airplane, registration number N707MM, powered by a single Pratt & Whiteny Canada PT6A-42 turbo-propeller engine experienced an uncontained engine failure while enroute from the Rapid City Regional Airport (KRAP), South Dakota to the Rochester International Airport (KRST), Minnesota. The pilot declared an emergency, started a gliding descent into KRST, and made a successful landing without power. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 flight. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries.

The teeth of the 1st stage sun gear in the reduction gearbox were ground away in the plane of the mating gear teeth of the 1st stage planet gears. The mating gear teeth of the three planet gears were battered and fractured.

Distress of the 1st stage sun gear teeth released the torque normally transferred to the propeller, causing the power turbines to overspeed and the power turbine blades to release in tension and become uncontained.

It was unknown when the last inspection of the reduction gearbox was performed. During the post incident examination of the engine at the P&WC facility, the engine was found to be in poor overall condition with missing surface protective paint and surface corrosion noted throughout the external and internal surfaces of the engine.

A review of the purchase documentation revealed that the operator knowingly purchased the engine in unserviceable condition and only performed a periodic inspection before flight.

- Probable Cause: Mechanically distressed reduction gears causing an engine overspeed and turbine blade tensile overload and subsequent uncontainment. Contributing to the uncontainment was the operator’s use of the engine after knowingly purchasing the engine in an unserviceable condition and only conducting a periodic inspection before flight.

Cessna 425 Conuest I, N425D, accident occurred on July 17, 2025, near Round Rock, Arizona

• Location: Round Rock, AZ
• Accident Number: WPR25LA218 
• Date & Time: July 17, 2025, 16:00 Local 
• Registration: N425D 
• Aircraft: Cessna 425 
• Injuries: 2 None 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200588/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N425D

On July 17, 2025, about 1600 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 425, N425D, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Round Rock, Arizona. The pilot receiving instruction and the flight instructor were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.

The pilot under instruction and the flight instructor reported that they were about 1.5 hours into the flight from Centennial Airport (APA), Denver, Colorado to Phoenix Dear Valley (DVT), Phoenix, Arizona. They reported that during cruise flight at an altitude of about 26,000 ft msl, they heard a loud noise from the left engine, followed by an immediate and total loss of engine power. While troubleshooting the left engine, the right engine lost total power, as confirmed by the torque and engine temperature gauges. They declared an emergency with air traffic control and attempted to restart the right engine, but the primary flight display “flickered for a moment” followed by a total loss of electrical power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to an open desert area and during the landing sequence on a dry, rough surface, the main landing gear separated. The airplane came to rest upright, and the left wing sustained substantial damage.

The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for further examination

Ayres S-2R-G6 Turbo Thrush, N2239V, accident occurred on August 6, 2025, near Slayton, Minnesota

• Location: Slayton, MN 
• Accident Number: CEN25LA304 
• Date & Time: August 6, 2025, 13:00 Local 
• Registration: N2239V 
• Aircraft: AYRES CORPORATION S2R-G6 
• Injuries: 1 Serious 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200724/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N2239V

On August 6, 2025, about 1300 central daylight time, a Ayres Corporation S2R-G6, airplane, registration N2239V, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Slayton, Minnesota. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural flight.

The operator stated the weather conditions were favorable with clear skies and less than 10 knots of wind. The airplane was lightly loaded to about 30-40% of its total capacity. The pilot had flown about 40-50 hours in the accident airplane and had reported no previous maintenance issues. Nothing was noted in the morning pre-flight inspection of the airplane.

The pilot told the operator he was about 200 ft above the ground in a fairly flat left turn, getting lined up for the first spray pass of the flight, when the controls locked up and he could not return them to center using both hands. The pilot tried to use rudder inputs but did not have enough altitude to make the recovery. The pilot stated he had engine power and was at about 120 knots and was adamant that the airplane did not stall.

The airplane impacted terrain in a left wing low attitude and cartwheeled to a stop, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and wings.

The accident site was documented, and the airplane will be recovered to a secure facility for further examination.

Air Tractor AT-502, N9193V, accident occurred on August 10, 2025, at Klein-O'Neal Airport (IL16), Lawrenceville, Illinois

• Location: Lawrenceville, IL 
• Accident Number: CEN25LA313 
• Date & Time: August 10, 2025, 13:21 Local 
• Registration: N9193V 
• Aircraft: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502 
• Injuries: 1 Minor 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200746/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N9193V

On August 10, 2025, about 1321 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lawrenceville, Illinois. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural flight.

The pilot stated he was taking off with a load of product and everything seemed normal until he went to rotate; at which time the airplane did not seem to be making full power. The pilot recalled looking down at the torque gauge and saw 1,400 not the usual 1,700 and he immediately pushed forward on the throttle. He attempted to jettison the load of product, but the rubber handgrip had migrated upward on the control handle preventing easy access to the switch that normally protruded from the handgrip. He described “forcing the airplane” into the air out of ground effect to gain enough altitude to clear the road and any passing traffic off the end of the runway. Unable to maintain altitude the airplane impacted the moisture laden bean field on the opposite side of the road and came to rest inverted. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and wings.

The airplane was recovered back to the airport and will be examined further at a later date.