Cessna 172S accident near Scottsdale, Arizona, February 21, 2003
On February 21, 2003, a Cessna 172S, registered N3550X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Scottsdale, Arizona (Scottsdale airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the student pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind conditions and failure to maintain directional control during the touch-and-go takeoff. A factor was his improper use of (failure to reduce) the throttle and normal brakes during the accident sequence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 2003
- Place
- Scottsdale, Arizona · Scottsdale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N3550X · registry record · serial 172S8894
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While attempting to do a touch-and-go takeoff with a 60-degree right 10-knot crosswind, the student pilot advanced the throttle to the full forward position, lost directional control of the airplane, and it veered off the runway and struck a runway sign and a hangar. He made unsuccessful attempts to correct the airplane's direction of travel and stop the airplane with brakes. The student pilot stated that as the airplane was veering off the runway it was at or near flying speed and he concentrated on trying to steer the airplane back on course. The student pilot did not attempt to abort the takeoff. A FAA inspector examined the airplane and noted no mechanical deficiencies with the directional controls, braking, or engine power control systems.
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: 53 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 777.9 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 31, 2003; 36.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDL Scottsdale AZ at 11:35 pm
- Destination: SDL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 8,249 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from SDL
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.