LAX04CA250

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172S · Glendale, AZ · June 26, 2004

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 26, 2004, 12:32 local (19:32 UTC)
Place
Glendale, AZ
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N35389Cessna 172S
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 1, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Inspector
FAA report
20040626016549A
Case key
59522

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, which resulted in a veer off the runway and collision with terrain.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment

Analysis

The airplane veered off the runway during the landing roll. The airplane touched down at a normal airspeed and was properly aligned on the runway's centerline. After touchdown, the airplane's right wing lifted up. While attempting to correct the wing's position, the student pilot lost control of the airplane. The airplane veered off the runway and collided with two hilocks. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

Factual narrative

On June 26, 2004, at 1232 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172S, N35389, veered off the runway during the landing roll at the Glendale Municipal Airport, Glendale, Arizona. Glendale Aviation was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight originated from Glendale about 1145. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed.

In a written statement, the student pilot reported that earlier in the day he had flown four full-stop takeoffs and landings with his flight instructor. With his instructor's authorization, he decided to fly solo, which would be his first solo flight. After making an uneventful takeoff, the pilot completed a traffic pattern for runway 19. On approach, he configured the airplane to compensate for wind conditions and input 30 degrees of flaps. The airplane touched down at a normal airspeed and was properly aligned on the runway's centerline.

The pilot further stated that after touchdown, the airplane's right wing lifted up. While attempting to correct, he lost control of the airplane. The airplane veered off the runway and collided with two hillocks. The airplane incurred damage to the firewall and bottom of the fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

Aircraft

Registration
N35389
Reported as
Cessna 172S
Category
Airplane
Serial number
172S8938
Engine
Lycoming IO-360, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Glendale Aviation
Registered owner
Chrismond Aviation, LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
GEU · Glendale, AZ
Destination
GEU · Glendale, AZ
Airport
GEU · Glendale Municipal Airport, runway 19

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
20
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3
Flight hours
27 total · 27 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.