Cessna 172R accident near Lincoln, Nebraska, September 20, 2024
On September 20, 2024 at about 6:58 pm local time, a 1997 Cessna 172R, registered N259GF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Lincoln, Nebraska (Lincoln 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 failure to maintain 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
- September 20, 2024 · about 6:58 pm local time
- Place
- Lincoln, Nebraska · Lincoln · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172R, built 1997 · all 172Rs on the register
- Registration
- N259GF · registry record · serial 17280259
- 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 on his fourth solo flight. He stated that while landing, he had corrected appropriately for the crosswind and upon touchdown the airplane was aligned with the runway. The airplane started to drift to the left and he ceased application of left brake and rudder and applied right brake and rudder. The airplane continued to drift to the left, exited the runway, and struck a taxiway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane or its systems that would have precluded normal operations.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,911 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 29, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 2,618 hours total
- Operator: Performance Aircraft Sales INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17/3, 5,801 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from KLNK
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLNK 201854Z 15009KT 9SM CLR 34/08 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP097 T03390083=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 2 – Damage to right side of fuselage (FAA Photo)
Photograph 3 – Damaged runway sign (FAA Photo)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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 13, 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Maintenance Evaluation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | 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.