Cessna 172P accident near Roanoke, Texas, May 23, 1988
On May 23, 1988 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N52119, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roanoke, Texas (Aero Valley 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 FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL YAW AXIS CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE CROSSWIND TAKE OFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1988 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Roanoke, Texas · Aero Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N52119 · registry record · serial 17274418
- 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 DEPARTING FROM RUNWAY 35 ON A LOCAL SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, WHEN AT LIFTOFF, THE AIRCRAFT WEATHERVANED INTO THE GUSTING CROSSWIND. THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED ONTO THE GROUND, SWERVED OFF THE RUNWAY, AND FLIPPED OVER AFTER IMPACTING A GRAVEL PILE.
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: 48 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 22 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,814 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 2, 1987; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D23 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 52F Roanoke TX at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,500 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 14 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from FTW, 15 miles away
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.