# NTSB WPR26LA169: Cessna 172N, N733WT, Carlsbad, CA, April 22, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 22, 2026, 12:59 local (19:59 UTC) - Place: Carlsbad, CA · airport - Coordinates: 33.12825, -117.28008 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1283&lon=-117.2801&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 August 27, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 202904 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA169 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202904/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202904 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA169 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while landing in gusting crosswind conditions. ## 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 172N, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072434), [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 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student was conducting a solo flight in the airport traffic pattern. While performing the preflight planning, the student pilot reported the wind was from 260° at 7 knots, which was within her solo limit for the flight. During landing, a gust of wind lifted the right wing and pushed the airplane to the left of the runway. The student pilot attempted to straighten the wings and correct back to the runway; however, the left wing contacted the ground, and the airplane exited the runway. The left wing and aileron sustained substantial damage. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 24, with wind from 300° at 7 knots gusting to 16 knots. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N733WT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N733WT), registered now, S/N 17268613, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17268613 - Year built: 1977 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Anderson Aviation Services Inc - Registered owner: Anderson Aviation Services Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: CRQ, Mc Clellan-Palomar, runway 06/24, 4,897 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 187.2 total, 84.7 in this make and model, 1.2 as pilot in command, 16.9 in the last 90 days, 10.3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 7 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KCRQ - METAR: METAR KCRQ 221953Z AUTO 30007G16KT 270V330 10SM CLR 18/10 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP196 T01830100= ## 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 20260422004639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260422004639A), Apr 22, 2026: Cessna 172N, Carlsbad, CA, Substantial damage. On April 22, 2026, APPROXIMATELY12:59 @ kcrq student pilot was flying C-172 and experienced turbulence on a downwind approach felt strong winds from the right.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202904. 18.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 17.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20751238&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6210_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20703931&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20MoR%20Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot mor (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20735034&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20MoR_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 308 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20703571&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA169%20Photos-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.