Cessna 172N accident near Pensacola, Florida, September 3, 2006
On September 3, 2006 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N1210F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pensacola, Florida (Ferguson Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's failure to raise the wing flaps for a go-around resulting in the airplane not climbing and an in-flight collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 2006 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Pensacola, Florida · Ferguson Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N1210F · no longer on the register · serial 17272971
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instructor stated that he had been working with the student pilot that morning in preparation for the student's first solo flight. Upon completion of the dual instruction, he instructed the student to perform full stop landings. He was going to be in communication with the student with a hand held radio during the solo takeoffs and landings. He went to the approach end of runway 36 to observe the student. The first takeoff and landing were uneventful. During the second landing, on short final, it appeared the airplane was slightly high. The airplane then seemed to assume a flared attitude appropriate for landing but well above the runway. He heard power applied partially to slow the descent, followed by full power, consistent with initiating a go around. He did not observe the airplane climb in altitude, so he radioed the student for 20 degrees of flaps. About that time the student initiated a left turn, barely clearing trees on the west side of the runway. He was unable to radio better instructions as he observed the aircraft maintain 30-50 feet of altitude in the turn, then descend below the tree line, followed by an impact sound. The student pilot stated that he had been practicing takeoffs and landings with his flight instructor for about an hour and the instructor felt that he was ready to conduct his first solo takeoffs and landings. The instructor made the proper endorsement in his pilot's logbook before permitting him to go solo. His first takeoff and landing were uneventful. During the second landing, he felt the airplane was too high and fast. He applied full engine power and attempted to turn left with 40 degrees of flaps. He heard his instructor on the airport's Unicom frequency, telling him to select 20 degrees of flaps. He attempted to select 20 degrees of flaps; however he saw the trees in front of him. The airplane impacted the top of the tree before coming to a stop on the ground. The student pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 18 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ferguson Aviation Academy
The flight
- Departed from: K82J Pensacola FL at 2:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,200 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from KNPA, 3 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.