N260ER

On October 9, 1995, at 1417 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172N, N260ER, collided with ground airport signs following a loss of directional control while landing at the Tucson, Arizona, International Airport. The aircraft was owned Embry Riddle Aeronautical University of Daytona Beach, Florida, and operated by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at Prescott, Arizona, and was on a solo cross-country instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at Prescott at 1230 on the day of the accident, as a closed circuit cross-country flight to Tucson and return.

According to information from the Air Traffic Control Tower, the aircraft landed on runway 11R hard, bounced left, and entered a sod area adjacent to the runway. The airplane then collided with airport runway/taxiway directional signs and came to rest facing northeast. The 1428 special observation reported winds from 300 at 9 knots.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident. He stated "while on final, they changed me to 11R, ATIS was reporting winds from 103 at 9 knots." He further stated that while flaring he "drifted a bit off centerline" and the airplane suddenly turned left, exited the runway, and collided with a runway marker sign.