Cessna 172R accident near Lantana, Florida, May 2, 2007
On May 2, 2007 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172R, registered N7273M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lantana, Florida (Palm Beach County Park 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's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 2007 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Lantana, Florida · Palm Beach County Park
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172R · all 172Rs on the register
- Registration
- N7273M · registry record · serial 17280761
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot stated that four full stop landings with the instructor were conducted before the solo endorsement was issued. After the first solo flight in the pattern, a go around was executed to give way for landing traffic. The second solo flight around the pattern went very well; final approach and landing went smoothly, and on target. During the landing roll, he applied brake pressure in addition to pulling back completely on the control yoke to induce aerodynamic braking with the elevator. As braking was applied, the airplane began to veer to the right. Full braking was applied; however, the airplane continued the right turn on to the grass. Attempts were made to avoid the electrical equipment boxes located in the grass. The airplane missed the far left two but came in contact with the far right box with the airplane's left main landing gear causing complete collapse. The aircraft came to rest in the field on its left wing. He secured the airplane and immediately exited. 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
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 31 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2007; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNA Lantana FL at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 3,256 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KPBI, 5 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.