# Accident 20260529005929A: Cessna 172S, Colorado Spring, CO, May 29, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 29, 2026, 12:00 local time
- Place: Colorado Spring, CO
- Airport: Usaf Academy
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.9725° N, 104.8173° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9725&lon=-104.8173&mi=10
- Aircraft: N386SP, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N386SP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172S (registry code 2072439, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 74 total, 28 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA210) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260529005929A

## Narrative

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

STUDENT PILOT WAS STARTING HIS 3RD SOLO TAKEOFF AND FULL STOP TAXIBACK. AS HE STARTED HIS TAKEOFF ROLL, HE NOTICED THE AIRCRAFT WANTING TO GET AIRBORNE PRIOR TO REACHING ROTATING SPEED. HE THEN NOTICED THE FLAPS WERE STILL FULL DOWN AND REACHED OVER AND RETRACTED THE FLAPS. AT THIS POINT THE AIRCRAFT HAD VEERED TO THE LEFT AND THE PILOT PULLED THE POWER BACK. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND RAN INTO TWO TAXIWAY /RWY SIGNS BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP OFF THE RUNWAY. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE ELEVATOR TRIM TAB ACTUATOR, RIGHT SIDE STRUT, SOME DAMAGE ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE NOSE AND BENT THE PROPELLER SLIGHTLY.

## 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 CEN26LA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA210), May 29, 2026: Cessna 172S (N386SP), Colorado Springs, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with runway signs.

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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