# Accident 20030220002969A: Cessna 172S, Scottsdale, AZ, February 20, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 20, 2003, 17:17 local time
- Place: Scottsdale, AZ
- Airport: Scottsdale Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Touch And Go Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.6269° N, 111.9000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6269&lon=-111.9000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3550X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3550X-2012-11-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172S (registry code 2072439, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03LA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA091) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030220002969A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON FEBRUARY 20, 2003, AT 1715 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 172S, N3550X, COLLIDED WITH A HANGAR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DO A TOUCH-AND-GO TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 22 AT THE SCOTTSDALE AIRPORT (SDL), SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA. ARIZONA FLIGHT WORKS OPERATED THE RENTAL AIRPLANE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE STUDENT PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE LOCAL AREA INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED SDL, AND WAS SCHEDULED TO TERMINATE AT SDL. ACCORDING TO A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) INSPECTOR, THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS DOING TOUCH-AND-GO TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. ON THE ACCIDENT TOUCH-AND-GO TAKEOFF HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE TO FULL POWER. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL HE "LOST CONTROL," RETARDED THE THROTTLE, AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE AIRPLANE. HE STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE BECAUSE IT KEPT ACCELERATING EVEN THOUGH HE HAD REDUCED THE POWER. THE STUDENT PILOT INDICATED THAT HE CHOSE TO RUN INTO THE HANGAR INSTEAD OF PARKED AIRPLANES. THE FAA INSPECTOR INTERVIEWED THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WHO STATED THAT THE STUDENT HAD ABOUT 40 HOURS OF TOTAL FLIGHT TIME, AND IT WAS THE STUDENT'S THIRD SOLO FLIGHT. THE CFI FURTHER REPORTED THAT THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT HE HAD FLOWN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WITH NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES ENCOUNTERED. (-23) WHILE EXECUTING A TOUCH AND GO ON RUNWAY 21 AT SCOTTSDALE AIRPORT, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL, EXITED THE RUNWAY TO THE EAST, ACCELERATED AND STRUCK A HANGAR. THE PILOT SUSTAINED BROKEN BONES AND LACERATIONS, WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE HANGAR SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX03LA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA091), Feb 21, 2003: Cessna 172S (N3550X), Scottsdale, AZ, substantial damage. 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…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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