CEN22LA170

Factual narrative

On April 3, 2022, about 1245 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, N857CP, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Sugar Land Regional Airport (KSGR), Houston, Texas. The student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.   The student pilot reported that, while practicing touch and go landings to runway 17, she added full power for takeoff and added right rudder to correct but perceived that the rudder was “locked into place”. The student pilot applied more pressure; however, the airplane would only correct slightly to the right before it would drift left again. She applied “full weight on the right rudder” at which time the airplane drifted right and left “very dramatically.” The nose of the airplane came up and the student pilot reduced the engine power to avoid taking off. She applied brakes to stop but stated only the left brake seemed to respond. The airplane jerked to the left and came to rest on the grass.  The fuselage sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airplane found no obvious malfunctions with the flight controls, although impact damage precluded full rudder deflection. A flight instructor pilot that witnessed the accident reported that the wind had increased past what was forecast and past the student pilot’s limit. At the time of the accident wind was from 130° at 12 kts, gusting to 18 kts; the crosswind was calculated to be 11 kts. The student pilot reported that she was practicing touch and go landings. She had just added full power to take off when the airplane veered to the left. The student pilot attempted to correct with the application of right rudder; however, she perceived that the rudder was “locked into place” and required full body weight to apply full right rudder. The student pilot lost control of the airplane and exited the side of the runway which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane found no obvious malfunctions with the flight controls, although impact damage precluded full rudder deflection. The instructor pilot that witnessed the accident reported that the wind had increased past what was forecast and past the student pilot’s limit. At the time of the accident the student pilot was taking off on runway 17 with wind from 130° at 12 kts, gusting to 18 kts; the crosswind was calculated to be 11 kts. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Ability to respond/compensate
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Ability to respond/compensate
• — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot