Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a fence post during taxi.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot's attention was momentarily diverted as he was taxiing around another airplane to the runup area. The pilot subsequently heard the right wing impact a fence post, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing's leading edge.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR09CA461 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 21, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- San Carlos, California
- Nearest airport
- San Carlos (SQL)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172S
- N-number
- N21591
- 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.