Cessna 172S N386SP

Summary

On 29 May 2026 at about 17:46 local time, a Cessna 172S registered N386SP, operated by Usaf Academy Aero Club, was involved in an accident near Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States. One person was 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

29 May 2026 at 17:46

Classification

Accident

Location

Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Usaf Academy Davis Airfield (AFF)

Coordinates

38.9725, -104.8173

Aircraft

Cessna 172S

Registration

N386SP

Category

Airplane

Year built

1999

Engines

1

Operator

Usaf Academy Aero Club

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN26LA210

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with runway signs.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot was completing his third solo takeoff of the day. During the takeoff roll, he recognized that the flaps were still fully extended from the previous landing and subsequently moved the flap lever to retract them. The airplane veered left off the runway and struck two runway signs, then continued back onto the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the elevator. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.