What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 08/21/2025 a student pilot prepared for a solo flight in a CE-172N. Aircraft was getting prepped for the flight by the flight instructor while the student pilot was filing out paperwork. The PIC performed a pre-flight and did not see that the rt MLG wheel chocks were on the rt wing strut still. During flight the wheel chocks smacked the rt wing multiple times resulting in numerous dents and a dented rib. PIC noticed that the wheel chock was on the rt wing strut during cruise while performing a right turn and then decided to immediately return back. Aircraft landed with no incident.
As the FAA filed it
ON 08/21/2025 A STUDENT PILOT PREPARED FOR A SOLO FLIGHT IN A CE-172N. AIRCRAFT WAS GETTING PREPPED FOR THE FLIGHT BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WHILE THE STUDENT PILOT WAS FILING OUT PAPERWORK. THE PIC PERFORMED A PRE-FLIGHT AND DID NOT SEE THAT THE RT MLG WHEEL CHOCKS WERE ON THE RT WING STRUT STILL. DURING FLIGHT THE WHEEL CHOCKS SMACKED THE RT WING MULTIPLE TIMES RESULTING IN NUMEROUS DENTS AND A DENTED RIB. PIC NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL CHOCK WAS ON THE RT WING STRUT DURING CRUISE WHILE PERFORMING A RIGHT TURN AND THEN DECIDED TO IMMEDIATELY RETURN BACK. AIRCRAFT LANDED WITH NO INCIDENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N1401E · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.