No fatalities

Airplane Veers Left During Touch-and-Go, Strikes Runway Sign

Prescott, AZ, United States

On April 12, 2012, a CESSNA 172S operated by NORTH AIRE AVIATION LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Prescott, AZ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 13 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot practicing touch-and-go landings in a crosswind experienced a leftward veer during takeoff acceleration. The airplane exited the runway and struck a runway sign, resulting in substantial damage.

Incident Overview

A pilot was performing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings in crosswind conditions. According to the pilot's account, the landing phase was uneventful. However, as the airplane accelerated for takeoff, it unexpectedly veered to the left.

Sequence of Events

The pilot applied control inputs to correct the veer, but the airplane continued its leftward deviation. It subsequently exited the runway surface and collided with a runway sign. The impact caused substantial damage to the fuselage, firewall, and empennage.

Pilot Report

The pilot stated that no mechanical anomalies were present that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. The investigation did not identify any pre-existing mechanical issues.

Damage Assessment

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, firewall, and empennage as a result of the collision with the runway sign.

Contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilotResponse/compensation