# Accident 20240518005859A: Cessna 172S, Prescott, AZ, May 18, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 18, 2024, 07:40 local time
- Place: Prescott, AZ
- Airport: Prescott Regional - Ernest A Love
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: HU8S
- Location: 34.6417° N, 112.4288° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6417&lon=-112.4288&mi=10
- Aircraft: N17304, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172S (registry code 2072439, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (registry code 41597, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 62 total, 62 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA191) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240518005859A

## Narrative

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

STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A STUDENT SOLO PERFORMING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS. THE STUDENT HAD COMPLETED SEVEN (7) OF THE EIGHT (8) TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS THAT HE WAS REQUIRED TO DO. THE STUDENT WAS IN THE MIDST OF EXECUTING THE FINAL TAKE-OFF WHEN THIS EVENT OCCURRED. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD JUST ROTATED FROM THE SURFACE OF THE RUNWAY AND WAS APPROXIMATELY THREE (3) TO FIVE (5) FEET IN THE AIR WHEN A FEW BIRDS WERE ENCOUNTERED.  THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT THE BIRDS FLEW ACROSS THE AIRCRAFT'S WINDSHIELD AT WHICH POINT HE DECIDED TO ABORT THE TAKE-OFF.  HE MOVED THE THROTTLE TO THE IDLE POSITION AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT ON THE REMAINING AVAILABLE RUNWAY. HOWEVER, AS THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO THE SURFACE THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT AND PROCEEDED TO CROSS THE GRASS AND THE TAXIWAY THEN CAME TO STOP IN A DITCH NEXT TO THE TAXIWAY.

## 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 WPR24LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA191), May 18, 2024: Cessna 172S (N17304), Prescott, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing following an aborted takeoff which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a ditch.

## Other reports on N17304 (1)

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

- [Accident 20120412004809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120412004809A), Apr 12, 2012: Cessna 172S (N17304), Prescott, AZ, Substantial damage. Aircraft veered to left at rotation speed while performing touch-and-go on runway 21L. Winds information the pilot had was wind 220 @ 13 gust to 18. Four…

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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