Probable cause
The student pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
NTSB analysis
The flight instructor and student pilot were practicing takeoffs and landings. They stated that on the second landing, when the airplane touched down, it veered sharply to the right. The instructor took control of the airplane and tried to stop the turn by applying full left rudder. She said that the rudder peddle was too stiff and that the airplane departed the side of the runway. The airplane struck a dirt berm and substantially damaged the firewall and empennage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed there were a lot of loose objects in the airplane, but there was no physical evidence that the rudder pedals had been jammed or impeded. Further examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN12CA315 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 25, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Wichita, Kansas
- Nearest airport
- Colonel James Jabara (AAO)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172N
- N-number
- N73743
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.