Cessna 172 accident near Phoenix, Arizona, October 6, 2016
On October 6, 2016 at about 11:20 pm local time, a 2012 Cessna 172, registered N602ND, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix-Mesa Gateway airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in his failure to maintain directional control during a go-around and a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 2016 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Phoenix-Mesa Gateway · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 S, built 2012 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N602ND · registry record · serial 172S11253
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The operator reported that, during a training flight, the flight instructor attempted a go-around on runway 30 right. When power was applied, the airplane yawed to the left, struck a runway remaining sign, and bounced off the ground. The flight instructor moved the throttle to idle, and the airplane settled to the ground and rolled onto runway 30 center and then stopped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage bulkhead and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Effect on operation
Dual student
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 291 hours in all; 266 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 43 in the last 30 days; 68 as pilot in command; 49 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 4, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 29 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,059 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 6, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 2,940 hours total
- Operator: Und Aerospace Foundation
The flight
- Departed from: IWA Mesa AZ at 10:00 pm
- Destination: IWA Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 30R, 9,300 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 11:11 pm from KIWA, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 14, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.