Cessna 172R accident near Columbus, Ohio, March 11, 2007
On March 11, 2007 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172R, registered N440ES, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbus, Ohio (Ohio State University Airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing. Contributing factors to the accident were the wind conditions and the runway sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 2007 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Columbus, Ohio · Ohio State University Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172R · all 172Rs on the register
- Registration
- N440ES · no longer on the register · serial 17280330
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was damaged during landing when it exited the left side of runway 27L (5,004 feet by 100 feet, dry asphalt), and struck a runway sign. The pilot reported that after touchdown, he noticed "the rate of left drift was too much." The pilot reported that he applied both brakes and right rudder, but the airplane continued drifting to the left side of the runway. As the airplane veered off the runway, the left main gear struck a runway sign. The airplane came to rest facing south in a grass area on the left side of the runway. Examination of the airplane following the accident failed to reveal any pre-existing anomalies. Reported wind conditions at the time of the accident were from 010 magnetic degrees at 8 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 80 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 21 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,457 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO 360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: New Flyers Association
The flight
- Departed from: GEO Georgetown OH at 7:30 pm
- Destination: OSU Columbus OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27L, 5,004 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.40 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from OSU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.