Dhana, India: A preliminary investigation report released by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has detailed how a Cessna 172S training aircraft operated by Chimes Aviation Pvt. Ltd. crashed during a go-around at Dhana Airstrip in Madhya Pradesh on December 10, 2025, leaving a 22-year-old trainee pilot with minor injuries and destroying the aircraft.
The aircraft, registered VT-CAZ, was returning from a solo cross-country training flight when the accident occurred at 08:43 UTC (2:13 pm IST) while attempting to land on Runway 35.
According to the AAIB, the trainee pilot made an initial approach but aborted the landing due to instability. During a second approach, the aircraft floated beyond the touchdown zone, prompting air traffic control to order another go-around. As the pilot advanced power, the aircraft pitched up abruptly, rolled left, and lost control, crashing onto the unpaved ground beside the runway.
The pilot managed to unbuckle and escape from the wreckage. No fire broke out, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage, including shattered propeller blades, collapsed nose landing gear, broken windscreens, and bent wings.
The trainee pilot held a valid Student Pilot License, had 74.5 flying hours, all on the Cessna 172, and had been medically cleared and well rested before the flight. A breath-analyser test conducted before departure was also normal.
The aircraft, built in 2014, had a valid airworthiness certificate and had completed a 50-hour maintenance inspection just one day before the accident, on 9 December 2025, with no defects reported.
Weather conditions were also favourable, with clear skies, 6 km visibility, and light winds, ruling out bad weather as a contributing factor.
AAIB teams have secured the wreckage and recovered Garmin G1000 flight data, CCTV recordings, and engine and airframe components for detailed analysis. Fuel and oil samples are also being tested.
Because the aircraft and key components were manufactured overseas, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Germany’s Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) have been notified and are assisting the Indian investigation.
The AAIB stressed that the findings are preliminary and aimed only at preventing future accidents, not assigning blame. A final report will determine the root cause of the loss of control during the go-around.
