IAD02LA085

Factual narrative

On August 5, 2002, at 1100 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N739GV, was substantially damaged when it impacted a hangar while taxiing at the Williamsport Regional Airport (IPT), Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The certificated student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the solo instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot reported that she had flown with her flight instructor in the traffic pattern on the day of the accident, and performed about seven touch-and-go landings. The flight instructor then asked her if she was comfortable with performing a solo flight in the traffic pattern. She agreed, and the flight instructor exited the airplane. The student pilot then initiated a left turn to return to the runway, and while looking to the right during the turn, the airplane's left wing struck a building. The student pilot reported that due to recent construction at the airport, she had to make an immediate 180-degree turn in front of the fixed based operator's building. She had not previously practiced 180-degree turns while taxiing, and came "too close to the building" during the maneuver. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed an on-scene examination of the airplane. According to the inspector, substantial damage was observed to the airplane's left main wing spar. Additionally, no mechanical deficiencies were noted. Weather, reported at Williamsport at 1053, included winds from 280 degrees at 4 knots, and visibility 6 miles. The student pilot initiated a left turn in front of a fixed base operator, to taxi to a runway. While looking to the right during the turn, the airplane's left wing struck a building. The student pilot had not previously practiced 180-degree turns while taxiing, and there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12