Cessna 172S accident near Denton, Texas, April 9, 2006
On April 9, 2006 at about 1:43 pm local time, a Cessna 172S, registered N358TW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Denton, Texas (Denton Municipal 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 the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 2006 · about 1:43 pm local time
- Place
- Denton, Texas · Denton Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N358TW · registry record · serial 172S9751
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 8-hour student pilot lost control of the tricycle gear single-engine airplane during the takeoff roll on his first solo flight. Witnesses at the airport reported that prior to his first solo flight, the student pilot and his flight instructor had completed 7 touch and go landings without incident. The flight instructor exited the 2004 model airplane and endorsed the student pilot's logbook for his first supervised solo flight. While on the takeoff roll from runway 17, the airplane was observed drifting off the east side of the runway onto the grass for about 600 to 800 feet. When the airplane crossed taxiway Alpha 4, the nose landing gear collapsed upon impact with the lip of taxiway Alpha 4. Runway 17 was described as a 5,999-foot long, by 150-foot wide, asphalt runway, which was reported to be dry at the time of the mishap. An FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site, reported that there was no evidence of braking being applied on the runway surface. He added that no anomalies were found with the aircraft nose wheel steering nor the braking system of the airplane. The instructional flight originated from another airport located 23 nautical miles southeast of the mishap airport. The weather at the airport at the time of the mishap was reported as clear skies with winds from 120 degrees at 4 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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 8 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Monarch Air
The flight
- Departed from: ADS Addison TX at 12:45 pm
- Destination: DTO Denton TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,999 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.