What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On April 17, 2026, the wichita FSDO was notified of an accident involving a Cessna 172K at phillip Billard airport (top), Topeka, KS. A student pilot received taxi instructions to hold short of taxiway alpha for traffic exiting runway 18, then proceed north on taxiway alpha behind the traffic ahead.
The student pilot stated that the preceding aircraft appeared to turn around, causing confusion about the ATC instructions. After unsuccessfully attempting to contact ground control, the student pilot exited taxiway alpha and proceeded westbound between hangars before turning south onto a connecting roadway.
The student pilot continued on the roadway striking a gate, substantially damaging both wings.
As the FAA filed it
ON APRIL 17, 2026, THE WICHITA FSDO WAS NOTIFIED OF AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING A CESSNA 172K AT PHILLIP BILLARD AIRPORT (TOP), TOPEKA, KS. A STUDENT PILOT RECEIVED TAXI INSTRUCTIONS TO HOLD SHORT OF TAXIWAY ALPHA FOR TRAFFIC EXITING RUNWAY 18, THEN PROCEED NORTH ON TAXIWAY ALPHA BEHIND THE TRAFFIC AHEAD.
THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT THE PRECEDING AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO TURN AROUND, CAUSING CONFUSION ABOUT THE ATC INSTRUCTIONS. AFTER UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTING TO CONTACT GROUND CONTROL, THE STUDENT PILOT EXITED TAXIWAY ALPHA AND PROCEEDED WESTBOUND BETWEEN HANGARS BEFORE TURNING SOUTH ONTO A CONNECTING ROADWAY.
THE STUDENT PILOT CONTINUED ON THE ROADWAY STRIKING A GATE, SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING BOTH WINGS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.