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Student Pilot Involved in Solo Flight Accident Following Soft Field Takeoff Practice (N5088K)

Fort Collins, CO, US

On July 31, 2002, a Cessna 172N (registration N5088K) operated by The Pilot Center was involved in an aviation accident near Fort Collins, CO. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and subsequent inadvertent stall/mush into terrain during a soft field take off. Contributing factors include the pilot's lack of experience and the high density altitude conditions. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 6 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

While on his first solo flight of the day, a student pilot experienced a loss of control during takeoff, resulting in a wing strike and substantial aircraft damage.

Accident Sequence

The student pilot had just completed practicing several soft field takeoffs and landings with an instructor and was on his first solo flight of the day. After taxiing to the end of the runway, he pulled the yoke back all the way and added full power. Following rotation, the airplane came straight up in a 45-degree incline. At approximately 20 feet in the air, the airplane drifted off to the right of the runway, struck the ground with its left wing tip, bounced up, and then struck the ground a second time.

Aircraft Damage

The ground impact collapsed and sheared off the nose landing gear, buckled the firewall, and bent the outboard 4 feet of the right wing spar.

Aerodynamic stall

Related events

Same aircraft family

Same operator

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 31 Jul 2002 Cessna 172N accident near Fort Collins, CO?

While on his first solo flight of the day, a student pilot experienced a loss of control during takeoff, resulting in a wing strike and substantial aircraft damage.

Were there any fatalities in the 31 Jul 2002 Cessna 172N accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 31 Jul 2002 involved a Cessna 172N, registration N5088K, operated by The Pilot Center, at Fort Collins, CO.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

the student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and subsequent inadvertent stall/mush into terrain during a soft field take off. Contributing factors include the pilot's lack of experience and the high density altitude conditions.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020808X01331. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.