Cessna 172S accident near Prescott, Arizona, March 3, 2007
On March 3, 2007 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172S, registered N526ER, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prescott, Arizona (Ernest A. Love Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 during the landing rollout and the certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 3, 2007 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Prescott, Arizona · Ernest A. Love Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N526ER · registry record · serial 172S9110
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane veered off the runway and collided with a ditch. During the landing rollout, the airplane started to veer to the right of runway centerline. The CFI allowed the student, who had a total time of 3 hours, to attempt to correct the airplane's track back to runway centerline until it became evident that the student was not able to do so. The instructor then assumed control and tried to correct the ground track. The student kept his feet on the brakes in an attempt to help the instructor slow the airplane. The airplane departed off the right side of the runway, and continued for about 200 feet until it impacted a ditch. The CFI stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 498 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 437 as pilot in command; 182 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 3 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,596 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott
The flight
- Departed from: Prescott AZ
- Destination: Prescott AZ
- Runway 03L, 4,846 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point -15°F (-26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from PRC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.