# Accident 20260630008709A: Cessna 172M, Lafayette, TN, June 30, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 30, 2026, 17:47 local time
- Place: Lafayette, TN
- Airport: Lafayette Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.5301° N, 86.0271° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5301&lon=-86.0271&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6814H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6814H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,321 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA26LA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA255) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260630008709A

## Narrative

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

THREE PEOPLE WERE ONBOARD THE AIRCRAFT. THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WAS IN THE FRONT RIGHT SEAT, A NON-FLYING PASSENGER WAS IN THE LEFT SEAT AND A STUDENT PILOT WAS IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE CFI BRIEFED THE PASSENGERS THAT HE WOULD BE FLYING THE AIRCRAFT. DURING TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A SLIGHT BUMP WHICH CAUSED THE PASSENGER IN THE LEFT SEAT TO PANIC. DURING THE PANIC, THE PASSENGER GRABBED THE YOKE, PULLED BACK AND WOULD NOT RELEQUISH CONTROL. THE CFI WAS SHOUTING FOR CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND FIGHTING THE CONTROL INPUTS OF THE PASSENGER. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY SURFACE TO THE LEFT, BECAME BRIEFLY AIRBORNE BEFORE STALLING INTO THE PERIMETER FENCING TO THE WEST OF THE RUNWAY. ALL OCCUPANTS WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 ERA26LA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA255), Jun 30, 2026: Cessna 172M (N6814H), Lafayette, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The passenger’s abrupt manipulation of the flight controls during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control and collision with a fence.

## Other reports on N6814H (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19910726035349I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910726035349I), Jul 26, 1991: Cessna 172M (N6814H), Sutton, WV. Engine running rough. Vectored to nearest airport. Landed safely. Suspect carburetor ice.

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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