Cessna 172S accident near Mckinney, Texas, November 2, 2012
On November 2, 2012 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172S, registered N172FU, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Mckinney, Texas (Collin County Regional airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's loss of directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 2012 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mckinney, Texas · Collin County Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N172FU · registry record · serial 172S10182
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that he was conducting a solo flight in the airport traffic pattern at the time of the accident. He stated that the airplane made a "soft landing on [the] main wheels." However, once the nose landing gear touched down, the airplane "darted" to the left. His attempts to maintain control were unsuccessful, and the airplane departed the runway pavement. A postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies related to the nosewheel steering or main wheel brakes. The recorded wind was calm about the time of the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Student pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 25 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 2, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,849 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 30, 2012
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flight Training Aircraft Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: TKI Mckinney TX at 1:45 pm
- Destination: TKI Mckinney TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 7,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from TKI, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.