[kellyhound]

On October 31, 2020, a tragic incident unfolded involving an al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Iraqiya (Iraqi Air Force) Cessna 172S Skylane. This aircraft was engaged in a training mission within Iraq's Salahudin province when a devastating crash occurred, resulting in the unfortunate loss of both the pilot and co-pilot.

The ill-fated aircraft was under the ownership of the 202nd Training Squadron, a vital component of the Iraqi Air Force College situated at Tikrit Al-Sahra. Investigations into the incident pointed to a technical malfunction as the root cause of the crash, which took place over the Saiyd Mohammed area near Balad, approximately 90 kilometers north of Baghdad.

It's worth noting that initial official statements mentioned a "Cessna Caravan" as the aircraft type involved, which could have indicated the Cessna 208B, also operated by the Iraqi Air Force. However, subsequent confirmation clarified that the aircraft in question was indeed a Cessna 172S Skylane.