FTW97LA005

Factual narrative

On October 4, 1996, at 1300 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 152, N25772, operated by Emery Aviation College, sustained substantial damage during landing roll when it departed the side of the runway/taxiway at Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, Colorado Springs, Colorado, as the student pilot attempted to exit the runway on the first taxiway after landing. The pilot was not injured during this local area student solo training flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. According to both the student pilot and the tower chief, the student had been directed by the tower to expedite exiting the runway due to jet traffic on a 4 mile final. The first turn off, taxiway A2, was over 4,000 feet from the approach end of the runway. In attempting a high speed turn, the aircraft slid off the runway/taxiway into a ditch perpendicular to the taxiway. According to performance information, if the landing had been made in the landing zone (first 1,500 feet of the runway) the aircraft could have been slowed in a normal non hazardous fashion. The tower controller instructed the solo student pilot to expedite exiting the runway following landing due to jet traffic on a 4 mile final. The student attempted to exit the first available taxiway, which was over 4,000 feet from the approach end of the runway. While exiting the runway, the aircraft slid off the runway/taxiway into a ditch perpendicular to the taxiway. Performance information indicated the aircraft could have been slowed in a normal non-hazardous fashion, if the landing had been made in the first 1,500 feet of the runway. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12