# NTSB CEN24LA365: Cessna 172R, N259GF, Lincoln, NE, September 20, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 20, 2024, 13:58 local (18:58 UTC) - Place: Lincoln, NE - Coordinates: 40.850891, -96.759121 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8509&lon=-96.7591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 195167 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA365 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195167/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195167 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA365 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was on his fourth solo flight. He stated that while landing, he had corrected appropriately for the crosswind and upon touchdown the airplane was aligned with the runway. The airplane started to drift to the left and he ceased application of left brake and rudder and applied right brake and rudder. The airplane continued to drift to the left, exited the runway, and struck a taxiway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane or its systems that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N259GF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N259GF), registered now, S/N 17280259, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0-360-B1E](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0-360-b1e) (registry code 41559, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280259 - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 8911 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Performance Aircraft Sales Inc - Registered owner: Performance Aircraft Sales Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 29, 2024 - Airport: LNK, Lincoln, runway 17/35, 5,801 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 9 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: KLNK - METAR: METAR KLNK 201854Z 15009KT 9SM CLR 34/08 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP097 T03390083= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20240920016119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240920016119A), Sep 20, 2024: Cessna 172R, Lincoln, NE, Substantial damage. On Friday, September 20th, 2024, a student pilot was conducting a solo flight out of the Lincoln, Nebraska aiport in a Cessna 172R. After approximately one… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 13, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195167. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18737541&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Scan%20by%20Xerox%202024-09-28-11-14-53_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance evaluation (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18738847&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2024-09-20%20N259GF%20MX%20Report-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 4 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18738684&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.