Cessna 172S accident near Lancaster, California, January 10, 2007
On January 10, 2007 at about 5:32 pm local time, a Cessna 172S, registered N534SP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lancaster, California (General Wjfox Airfield). 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 reason for the loss of directional control was undetermined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 10, 2007 · about 5:32 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, California · General Wjfox Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N534SP · no longer on the register · serial 172S8380
- 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 wake turbulence was encountered during the takeoff roll, directional control was lost, and the airplane nosed-over after impacting a berm off the runway surface. A larger, twin-engine jet aircraft landed long about 2 minutes prior to the accident. The student pilot then landed, stopped, and began his takeoff roll. During the takeoff roll, the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot attempted to realign the airplane on the centerline by applying right rudder and right brake, at which time the airplane veered sharply to the left in a skidding motion. The airplane impacted a berm and nosed-over. The FAA accident coordinator stated that there were no pre-impact mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Winds were calm at the time of 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
- Flight time: 72 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,644.8 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, December 1, 2006; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KEDW Edwards Afb CA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: WJF Lancaster CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 7,201 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from WJF
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.
Other NTSB records under N534SP the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.