Probable cause
The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot was on his fourth solo flight. He stated that while landing, he had corrected appropriately for the crosswind and upon touchdown the airplane was aligned with the runway. The airplane started to drift to the left and he ceased application of left brake and rudder and applied right brake and rudder. The airplane continued to drift to the left, exited the runway, and struck a taxiway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane or its systems that would have precluded normal operations.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN24LA365 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 20, 2024
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Lincoln, Nebraska
- Nearest airport
- Lincoln (LNK)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172R
- N-number
- N259GF
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1997
- 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.