Cessna 172L accident near San Antonio, Texas, October 11, 2002
On October 11, 2002 at about 3:31 pm local time, a Cessna 172L, registered N7616G, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Antonio, Texas (Stinson Field). 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for wind resulting in a loss of directional control. A contributing factor was the prevailing crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 11, 2002 · about 3:31 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · Stinson Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N7616G · no longer on the register · serial 172-59316
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff roll, the student pilot lost directional control of the airplane and impacted a runway sign. The student pilot had completed several takeoffs and landings without incident. Due to a change in wind direction, the active runway changed from runway 14 to runway 09. On her first takeoff from runway 09, the airplane veered to the left of centerline, and the pilot did not correct for the left drift. The airplane departed the side of the runway and its left main gear collided with a runway sign, partially separating the left main landing gear. After completing a traffic pattern for a full stop landing, the airplane abruptly veered to the left after the damaged left main gear contacted the runway. The airplane departed the runway, crossed a taxiway , and collided with another taxiway sign, and came to rest in the upright position.
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: 29 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,208 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 24, 2002; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SSF San Antonio TX at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 090, 4,835 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 060° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 2:34 pm from KSSF
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.