Cessna 172 accident near Wingate, North Carolina, August 2, 2008
On August 2, 2008 at about 1:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N6026A, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Wingate, North Carolina (Arant 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 control of the airplane during a go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2008 · about 1:20 pm local time
- Place
- Wingate, North Carolina · Arant Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6026A · no longer on the register · serial 28626
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot of the Cessna 172 stated that he had just completed three touch-and-go landings with his instructor and was ready for his solo flight. The instructor exited the airplane and told the student he would be in radio communication with him during the flight. The student pilot then departed runway 15, a 2,800-foot long, 70-foot wide, asphalt runway, and stayed in the traffic pattern. He said that during landing flare he pulled back too much on the yoke and the airplane ballooned. He attempted a go-around, but lost control of the airplane and collided with a fence.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 42 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 42 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,839 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2008; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1NC6 Wingate NC at 12:15 pm
- Destination: 1NC6 Wingate NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,800 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 12:30 pm from EQY, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.