Probable cause
The student pilot’s loss of directional control on landing.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot was on his first solo flight and was attempting to land. Just before touch down, a gust of wind pushed the airplane off the left side of the runway, and it struck a ditch. Subsequently, the left horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported that the airplane had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA23LA019 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 14, 2022
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- Nearest airport
- Knoxville Downtown Island (DKX)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Gulfstream American Corp AA-5A
- N-number
- N26944
- 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.