Cessna 172S N3550X
21 February 2003 · Scottsdale, Arizona, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 21 February 2003 at about 00:20 local time, a Cessna 172S registered N3550X, operated by Arizona Flight Works, was involved in an accident near Scottsdale, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 00:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Scottsdale, Arizona, United States
- Nearest airport
- Scottsdale (SDL)
- Coordinates
- 33.6269, -111.9000
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S
- Registration
- N3550X
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Arizona Flight Works
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Scottsdale → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX03LA091
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
the student pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind conditions and failure to maintain directional control during the touch-and-go takeoff. A factor was his improper use of (failure to reduce) the throttle and normal brakes during the accident sequence.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
While attempting to do a touch-and-go takeoff with a 60-degree right 10-knot crosswind, the student pilot advanced the throttle to the full forward position, lost directional control of the airplane, and it veered off the runway and struck a runway sign and a hangar. He made unsuccessful attempts to correct the airplane's direction of travel and stop the airplane with brakes. The student pilot stated that as the airplane was veering off the runway it was at or near flying speed and he concentrated on trying to steer the airplane back on course. The student pilot did not attempt to abort the takeoff. A FAA inspector examined the airplane and noted no mechanical deficiencies with the directional controls, braking, or engine power control systems.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 172 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Dec 2003 | Cessna 172RG | Key West, Florida, United States | Avion Jet Center, LLC | No injuries | - |
| 16 Mar 2003 | Cessna 172N | Foley, Minnesota, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 12 Jul 2003 | Cessna 172S | Chandler, Arizona, United States | Angel Air | No injuries | - |
| 18 Jan 2003 | Cessna 172 | Chesapeake, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Mar 2003 | Cessna 172S | Monroe, Georgia, United States | Elite Flight Center | Fatal | 2 |
| 22 Aug 2003 | Cessna 172S | Lake Elmo, Minnesota, United States | Wings, Inc. | Fatal | 3 |
All 12,209 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jan 2003 | Piper PA-23-250 | Flagstaff, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 25 Apr 2003 | Piper PA-28-181 | Bullhead City, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Aug 2003 | Ercoupe 415-C | Saint Johns, Arizona, United States | Robert Greenwade | No injuries | - |
| 15 Mar 2003 | Piper PA24 | Mesa, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Aug 2003 | Cessna 150C | Tucson, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Oct 2003 | Piper PA-34-220T | Show Low, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |