Cessna 172 accident near Weslaco, Texas, August 20, 2024
On August 20, 2024 at about 7:15 pm local time, a 1962 Cessna 172, registered N2037Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Weslaco, Texas (Mid Valley airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 2024 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Weslaco, Texas · Mid Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 C, built 1962 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N2037Y · registry record · serial 17249537
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was performing touch and go landings while his instructor monitored at the airport. He performed two touch and go landings without incident and approached the runway to perform a full stop landing to pick up his instructor. During the landing rollout, the student pilot reported a gust of wind picked up the right wing and the airplane began to veer left. The student pilot attempted to correct with opposite aileron; however, the airplane exited the runway, and the nose landing gear collided with a runway sign. The nose landing gear collapsed and was torn from the airplane as it skidded to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the student pilot was landing the airplane on runway 14 with wind from 080° at 9 knots.
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 (landing roll) defining event
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Student/instructed pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 54.3 hours in all; 54.3 in this make and model; 9.9 in the last 90 days; 4.9 in the last 30 days; 9.8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,857 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 13, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-C (piston); 6,857 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 6,002 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from KTXW
Weather report (METAR): METAR KTXW 201915Z AUTO 08009KT 10SM SCT060 37/20 A3000 RMK AO2 T03700205=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on February 11, 2025. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Student Pilot Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | CFI Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.