Cessna 172 N9404F accident near Scottsdale, Arizona

Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain the runway heading during a go-around with a crosswind, which resulted in the left main landing gear impacting a runway sign.

NTSB analysis

The solo student pilot reported that, during the landing roll of a touch-and-go landing, the airplane began to veer off the runway, so he added power for a go-around. During the go-around, he saw that the left main landing (MLG) gear strut was bent and that the tire was "missing." He told the tower controller that he must have hit something and was instructed to fly by the tower. After the flyby, the tower controller confirmed that the left MLG was damaged and cleared the student to land. During the landing roll, the airplane skidded off the runway.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and left elevator.

The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 7 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 320° at 8 knots. The student was landing the airplane on runway 21.

Examination of security videos revealed that, during the go-around, the airplane drifted left and that the left MLG struck a runway sign.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA19CA162 for the full record.