# Accident 20151226022229A: Cessna 172N, Punta Gorda, FL, December 26, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 26, 2015, 17:05 local time
- Place: Punta Gorda, FL
- Airport: Puntagorda Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.9147° N, 81.9964° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.9147&lon=-81.9964&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4776E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4776E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 47 total, 31 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA16CA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA096) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151226022229A

## Narrative

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

ON 26 DECEMBER 2015, AT 1705 EST, A CESSNA 172, N4776E, STRUCK CONCRETE LIGHT POLE WITH ITS LEFT WING. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TAXIING TO A PARKING SPOT AND STRUCK THE LIGHT POLE WITH THE LEFT WING LEADING EDGE APPROX. 2.5' FROM THE WINGTIP. THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED. THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE STRIKE CAUSED AN APPROX. 2" DEEP DENT IN THE LEADING EDGE, AND CAUSED THE AFT TOP SIDE SKIN OF THE WING, BETWEEN THE FUSELAGE AND FLAPS, TO WRINKLE AND BUCKLE UP IN SEVERAL PLACES IN AN APPROX. 2' X 2' AREA. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL REVEALED THAT THE AFT WING SPAR WAS BUCKLED WHICH NECESSITATED A RE-WING OF THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 GAA16CA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA096), Dec 26, 2015: Cessna 172 (N4776E), Punta Gorda, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance while taxiing on the ramp, resulting in a collision with an object.

## Other reports on N4776E (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19991024037229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991024037229A), Oct 24, 1999: Cessna 172N (N4776E), Crandon, WI, Substantial damage. (.19) On October 24, 1999, at 2145 central daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N4776E, collided with a deer on takeoff from runway 29 at the Crandon Municipal…
- [Accident 19960628015549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960628015549A), Jun 28, 1996: Cessna 172N (N4776E), Newry, PA, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed on runway with inoperative aispeed indicator, approach too fast, ran off end of runway, hit ditch.

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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