Probable cause
The student pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in impact with a ditch.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot and instructor were practicing short field landings at an airport with a 34-foot-wide runway. While performing the second landing, the student pilot landed left of the runway centerline, and the left tire entered the grass along the runway edge. Both the student pilot and instructor attempted to correct by applying right rudder, however the airplane continued to veer left. The airplane subsequently impacted a ditch filled with tall grass, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage.
The flight instructor reported there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR25LA162 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 26, 2025
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Monroe, Washington
- Nearest airport
- First Air Field (W16)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172N
- N-number
- N6132G
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1980
- 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.