No fatalities

Student Pilot Loses Control During Go-Around, Collides with Fence

Wingate, NC, United States

On August 2, 2008, a CESSNA 172 operated by Gregory A. Griffin was involved in an aviation accident near Wingate, NC. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a go-around. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot on his first solo flight after completing touch-and-go landings with an instructor lost control during a go-around attempt and collided with a fence.

Incident Summary

A student pilot flying a Cessna 172 was involved in an accident after completing three touch-and-go landings with his instructor. The instructor exited the airplane, and the student pilot proceeded on his solo flight. He departed runway 15, a 2,800-foot-long, 70-foot-wide asphalt runway, and remained in the traffic pattern.

Pilot's Account

The student pilot reported that during the landing flare, he pulled back too much on the yoke, causing the airplane to balloon. He attempted to initiate a go-around but lost control of the airplane. The aircraft subsequently collided with a fence.

Aircraft Information

The accident aircraft was a Cessna 172. No specific registration or additional details were provided in the report.

Contributing factors

Causes

Student pilotPerformance/control parameters — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Fence/fence post

All Cessna 172 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2 Aug 2008 CESSNA 172 accident near Wingate, NC?

A student pilot on his first solo flight after completing touch-and-go landings with an instructor lost control during a go-around attempt and collided with a fence.

Were there any fatalities in the 2 Aug 2008 CESSNA 172 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2 Aug 2008 involved a CESSNA 172, operated by Gregory A. Griffin, at Wingate, NC.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a go-around.