Probable cause
The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing with a tailwind.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot was landing during a solo flight, and the airplane drifted to the left while between 100-200 ft above the runway. The student pilot initiated a go around. During the go around attempt, the main landing gear touched the ground; one wheel touched the runway surface, and the other wheel touched the grass adjacent to the runway. The right wing impacted the ground. The airplane departed the runway and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.
The student pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot further reported that the surface wind, as observed at the windsock, had shifted to a tailwind during the flight.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN24LA016 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 13, 2023
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Denton, Texas
- Nearest airport
- Denton Enterprise Airport (KDTO)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA-28-180
- N-number
- N6605J
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1968
- 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.