What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On August 10, 2026, a Cessna 172 operated by a PIC and student pilot experienced a runway excursion while landing on runway 12L at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (kiwa). During VFR traffic pattern operations, weather conditions rapidly deteriorated, with winds changing from 130° at 10 knots to 190° at 25 knots, gusting to 30 knots, with blowing dust.
Following touchdown on the runway centerline, the aircraft encountered strong wind gusts during the landing rollout and departed the right side of the runway into a gravel area, striking and damaging a taxiway light. The aircraft was shut down and subsequently towed to the ramp. There were no injuries or damage to the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
ON AUGUST 10, 2026, A CESSNA 172 OPERATED BY A PIC AND STUDENT PILOT EXPERIENCED A RUNWAY EXCURSION WHILE LANDING ON RUNWAY 12L AT PHOENIX-MESA GATEWAY AIRPORT (KIWA). DURING VFR TRAFFIC PATTERN OPERATIONS, WEATHER CONDITIONS RAPIDLY DETERIORATED, WITH WINDS CHANGING FROM 130° AT 10 KNOTS TO 190° AT 25 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 30 KNOTS, WITH BLOWING DUST.
FOLLOWING TOUCHDOWN ON THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED STRONG WIND GUSTS DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT AND DEPARTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY INTO A GRAVEL AREA, STRIKING AND DAMAGING A TAXIWAY LIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SHUT DOWN AND SUBSEQUENTLY TOWED TO THE RAMP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.