Cessna 172H N51302

Summary

On 10 October 2009 at about 17:35 local time, a Cessna 172H registered N51302, operated by Sonoran Wings Flight Training Centre, was involved in an accident near Tucson, Arizona, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 October 2009 at 17:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Tucson International Airport (TUS)

Coordinates

32.1158, -110.9408

Aircraft

Cessna 172H

Registration

N51302

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Sonoran Wings Flight Training Centre

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tucson → Tucson

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR10CA013

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff ground roll.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he had performed two touch-and-go takeoffs and landings without incident. On the third landing, he noted the wind was straight down the runway. After touchdown, the pilot added power and raised the flaps for takeoff. Within a few seconds the airplane veered sharply to the left and he attempted to correct back to the runway. He observed taxiway lights and a large sign on his right side. The pilot stated that he did not want to damage the airplane by making an abrupt maneuver toward the runway, so he steered the airplane to the left and away from the sign; however, the tail section struck the sign. The airplane departed the runway and came to a stop in the field. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the elevator had sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.