# Accident 20250821011129A: Cessna 172N, Colorado Spring, CO, August 21, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 21, 2025, 15:36 local time
- Place: Colorado Spring, CO
- Airport: Usaf Academy Airstrip
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: O3BS
- Location: 38.9700° N, 104.8144° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9700&lon=-104.8144&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1401E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1401E) (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: 63 total, 63 in this make and model, 29 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25LA332](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA332) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250821011129A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 CEN25LA332](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA332), Aug 21, 2025: Cessna 172 (N1401E), Air Force Academy, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to perform an adequate preflight inspection.

## Other reports on N1401E (1)

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

- [Incident 20200624008389I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200624008389I), Jun 24, 2020: Cessna 172N (N1401E), Colorado Spring, CO, Minor damage. On June 24th, 2020 at 12:48 MDT, N1401E, a Cessna 172 incurred minor damage during an attempt to land at the air force Academy airfield (kaff). There was one…

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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