# NTSB ANC26LA088: Cessna 172L, N3866Q, Micanopy, FL, August 18, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: August 18, 2026, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Micanopy, FL · Swamp
- Coordinates: 29.4823, -82.3472
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4823&lon=-82.3472&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203658
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC26LA088
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203658/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA088

## Preliminary report

On August 18, 2026 at 1100 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172L, N3866Q, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Micanopy, Florida. The flight instructor and student pilot were uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that during the power recovery to a power off stall the student pilot was having trouble pushing the throttle back in during the recovery portion of the procedure. The flight instructor attempted to demonstrate the maneuver and when he attempted the power on recovery the movement of the throttle did not increase the engine power. When the throttle was pushed in it would forcibly push back out on its own. They ran through their checklist as they attempted to return to the runway. The engine continued to run at idle speed as they made a force landing to a dry lakebed. During the landing rollout the nose wheel traveled into a marshy area and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. An inspection of the throttle control system is pending.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3866Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3866Q), registered now, S/N 17259966, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L
- Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17259966
- Year built: 1971
- Airframe hours: 8619
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Ocala Aviation Services Inc
- Registered owner: Ocala Aviation Services Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 3, 2026, 50 hours before
- Departed: KOCF, Ocala, FL
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observed at: KGNV, 13 nm away
- METAR: METAR KGNV 181453Z 31010KT 10SM CLR 32/24 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP180 T03170239 51008 $

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.

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