Cessna 172S accident near Brookings, South Dakota, May 4, 2023
On May 4, 2023 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 2005 Cessna 172S, registered N1674E, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Brookings, South Dakota (Brookings Regional airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s failure to maintain pitch and directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident, was the student pilot’s delay in relinquishing control of the airplane and the instructor's delayed reaction before the loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 2023 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Brookings, South Dakota · Brookings Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S, built 2005 · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N1674E · registry record · serial 172S9915
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The check instructor reported that during a soft field takeoff for an end-of-course test, the student pilot did not correct for an increasing nose up attitude and struck the tail on the runway surface. The student was then instructed to abort the take-off several times, to which the student did not immediately respond. During the abort, the student pilot lost directional control and the instructor took control of the airplane. However, the instructor reported that he was unable to regain full control before the airplane left the runway surface. The airplane struck a runway sign which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage.
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
- Tailstrike during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › (general) › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Incorrect use/operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Student/instructed pilot
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 723 hours in all; 585 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 637 as pilot in command; 478 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 26, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 80 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 9 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,705.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 23, 2023; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 1,243 hours total
- Operator: South Dakota State University
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 100 ft by 6,000 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from KBKX, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBKX 042256Z AUTO 11006KT 10SM BKN090 23/04 A2976 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SE SLP089 T02330044=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 29, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N1674E the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.