# NTSB WPR25LA297: Cessna 172, N7373A, Hayden, ID, September 26, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 26, 2025, 14:53 local (21:53 UTC)
- Place: Hayden, ID · KCOE
- Coordinates: 47.779397, -116.8099
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7794&lon=-116.8099&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 2025
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201736
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA297
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201736/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201736
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA297

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s inability to maintain control of the airplane during a sudden wind gust resulting in the airplane coming to rest inverted.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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 172, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072402), [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.

- [Taxi-to runway: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Taxi-to runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot had just completed a series of takeoffs and landings with his flight instructor in preparation for a solo flight. After landing, the instructor exited the airplane and the student then taxied to the assigned runway threshold and held short of the runway, per the tower controller’s instructions. While stationary on the taxiway, a strong wind gust lifted the airplane’s tail and right wing. The student maintained pressure on the brake pedals and held the control yoke fully aft. However, the airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted on the taxiway. The student noted that the gust was significantly stronger than the prevailing winds. As a result of the impact, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, rudder, and vertical stabilizer. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The reported wind around the time of the accident was 13 kts out of the southwest, gusting to 17 kts. The airplane was oriented and subjected to a quartering tailwind.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7373A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7373A), registered now, S/N 29473 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 29473
- Year built: 1956
- Airframe hours: 4303.7
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 5, 2025
- Departed: KCOE, Hayden, ID
- Airport: COE, Coeur D'Alene/Pappy Boyington Fld
- Equipment: ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 69 total, 69 in this make and model, 13 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 13 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: KCOE
- METAR: METAR KCOE 262056Z AUTO 23013G17KT 10SM CLR 20/M02 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP208 6//// T02001017 56006 PNO $=

## 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 20250926013659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250926013659A), Sep 26, 2025: Cessna 172, Hayden, ID, Substantial damage. Student-pilot certificated airman finished a lesson with his instructor and dropped the instructor at the FBO at kcoe. After tower instruction, student pilot…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201736. 119 MB in all.

- WPR25LA297_pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19366394&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR25LA297_6120_1_Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- WPR25LA297_photos (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 872 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19365651&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR25LA297-Photos-Rel.pdf
- WPR25LA297 - airport camera video (item 3, ZIP, 114 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19389040&FileExtension=zip&FileName=WPA25LA297-Video-Zoomed-Rel.zip
- Pilot's statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19449179&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Redacted-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.

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