N2860QCessna 172L · 1971

On August 14, 2025, about 0934 central daylight time, a Cessna 172L, N2860Q, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Walters, Oklahoma. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations as a Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot, who was an independent flight instructor at Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport, Lawton (LAW), Oklahoma, was allowed to use the airplane for pilot proficiency purposes by the airport authority. Airport personnel did not know of the pilot’s schedule for any flight training activity on the day of the accident since the pilot would solely maintain that schedule. An airframe and powerplant mechanic at LAW stated the pilot did not report any mechanical discrepancies with the airplane before the accident flight.

Radar data showed the airplane departed from runway 17 at LAW, about 0833, and proceeded eastbound for about 10 miles before beginning a series of turns with relatively constant altitude and no large altitude deviations. During the last minute of radar data, the airplane made a right turn and proceeded northbound, decreasing in altitude and gaining airspeed until the radar data track stopped.

The accident site and impact features of the airplane exhibited an airplane nose-down, high-speed, impact with terrain. The airspeed indicator, which was separated from the main wreckage, indicated about 155 kts. Accident site ground scarring contained a hole several inches deep within the ground consistent with the airplane nose that was surrounded by ground scars of the main landing gear wheels and both wings. The wings, fuselage, empennage, and control surfaces were all contained within the main wreckage. Both wings were crushed inward to their respective main wing spars and their wing flaps were in the retracted position. The airplane pitch trim was about in the neutral position. The propeller was separated from the engine and displayed rotational features of chordwise scratching and twisting.