Cessna 172N accident near Athens, Ohio, June 9, 2006
On June 9, 2006 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N240U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Athens, Ohio. 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were the gusty crosswind, and the ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2006 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Athens, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N240U · registry record · serial 17268944
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane contacted a ditch following a loss of directional control during a landing roll. The student pilot reported that winds were calm when he departed on the local flight. He reported that he checked the weather during the flight and noted the wind velocity was beginning to increase. He stated he radioed his flight instructor and told him he was returning to the airport. The pilot reported he was blown off course by the wind during his first landing approach, so he initiated a go around. He reported that during the second landing, the airplane touched down and after all three landing gear were on the ground, the airplane began to veer to the right. He reported he was not able to regain directional control and the airplane exited the right side of the runway where it came to rest in a ditch. The closest weather reporting station was located approximately 38 miles from the accident airport. The winds reported at this station at 1153 were from 350 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 19 knots. The winds reported at this station at 1053 were from 310 degrees at 9 knots. The student pilot reported having a total flight time of 19 hours.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 19 hours in all; 19 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UNI Athens OH at 2:15 pm
- Destination: UNI Athens OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 12 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from PKB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI06CA151.