What happened
A non-certificated individual took control of an aircraft without proper authorization and attempted to land it at Allegheny County Airport. The flight ended in a crash while attempting to touch down on runway 10. The Cessna 172 sustained substantial damage during the incident. Two passengers were aboard the aircraft at the time of the crash, but neither was injured.
The investigation
Investigation into the circumstances surrounding the flight revealed that the pilot had never soloed in any aircraft prior to this event. Furthermore, the individual had no prior experience flying the specific model involved, a Cessna 172. The lack of certification and training was a critical factor in the unauthorized nature of the flight.
Findings
The primary contributing factor to this accident was the decision by a non-certificated pilot to operate an aircraft without authorization. The pilot's complete lack of soloing experience and unfamiliarity with the Cessna 172 type contributed to the inability to safely complete the landing attempt.