# Accident 20260416008039A: Cessna 172K, Topeka, KS, April 16, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 16, 2026, 18:32 local time
- Place: Topeka, KS
- Airport: Philip Billard Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.0688° N, 95.6224° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0688&lon=-95.6224&mi=10
- Aircraft: N84794, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N84794) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172K (registry code 2072430, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 17 total, 15 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA167) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260416008039A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN26LA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA167), Apr 17, 2026: Cessna 172 (N84794), Topeka, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain situational awareness while taxiing which resulted in a collision with fence poles on either side of a gate which was not intended for airplanes.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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