N20488 is a 1973 Cessna 172M. It is a fixed-wing single-engine aircraft with 4 seats, powered by a Lycoming 0-320 series rated at 180 horsepower. The registration is active, with the registrant based in Aurora, OR. Its standard airworthiness certificate was issued in Jan 1973. It has been registered to its current owner since Mar 2026. This page also carries 1 NTSB event.
- 53 years old
- 1 of 3,726 Cessna 172M
2026
1973
That's everything on file so far — TailWiki checks the FAA registry daily and adds new entries as N20488's record changes.
The student pilot reported that on his first night training flight he was practicing takeoffs and landings. He stated that during his third approach, as he was turning from base to final, the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) displayed four red lights, indicating that he was below the recommended approach path. The flight instructor told him that he was too low and to add power. The student pilot added power and the far left PAPI light started to turn from red to white. He reported that on short final, he reduced engine power to idle and that during touchdown, the airplane collided with a runway threshold light. The airplane sustained substantial damage to horizontal stabilizer spar.
The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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About the Cessna 172M
About the modelA Skyhawk of the mid-production era, four-seat and high-wing with a fixed tricycle gear. Among the most numerous variants on the US registry, and a mainstay of flight schools and private owners alike.