# NTSB CEN26LA092: Cessna 172, N5136E, San Marcos, TX, January 7, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 7, 2026, 14:03 local (20:03 UTC)
- Place: San Marcos, TX
- Coordinates: 29.901163, -97.857724 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9012&lon=-97.8577&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 19, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA San Antonio FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202304
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA092
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202304/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202304
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA092

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s failure to properly configure the elevator trim for the takeoff, that resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s failure to follow the before takeoff checklist.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Flight control system: elevator control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md)
- [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor was going to demonstrate to the pilot receiving instruction, a short-field takeoff, with a simulated loss of engine power, as required per the flight school lesson plan. The flight instructor reported that he configured the airplane for the takeoff. Once the airplane had climbed to about 100 ft agl, he reduced the engine power to idle and began the descent back to the runway. The flight instructor noticed that the flight controls “seemed heavy” and the airplane was “descending fast.” The airplane landed hard on the runway and came to rest upright. The airplane taxied to the ramp without further incident, the airplane was shut down, and both occupants departed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane found the elevator trim was set to the full nose down position for the takeoff. The operator reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The operator further reported that the accident could have been prevented if the flight instructor had adhered to the published maneuver procedure and profile, for the maneuver that was being demonstrated. The airplane’s before takeoff checklist includes a step to configure the elevator trim for the takeoff. The FAA Aviation Instructor’s Handbook FAA-8083-9B discusses checklists and states in part: Checklists are essential flight deck resources for verifying that the aircraft instruments and systems are checked, set, and operating properly, as well as ensuring that the proper procedures are performed if there is a system malfunction or inflight emergency.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5136E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5136E), registered now, S/N 17271729, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (N)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17271729
- Year built: 1978
- Airframe hours: 8289.9
- Engines: Lycoming Engines O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: US Aviation Academy, doing business as US Aviation Academy
- Registered owner: Wings Over Texas Holdings LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 1, 2025, 86 hours before
- Departed: HYI, San Marcos, TX
- Destination: HYI, San Marcos, TX
- Airport: HYI, San Marcos Rgnl, runway 17/35, 5,214 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 38; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 16, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 564 total, 515 in this make and model, 357 as pilot in command, 185 in the last 90 days, 62 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 31; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review March 4, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,199.8 total, 23 in this make and model, 535.4 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observed at: KHYI
- METAR: KHYI 071956Z 16011KT 6SM HZ CLR 26/18 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP111 T02560183 $

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20260107000279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260107000279A), Jan 7, 2026: Cessna 172N, San Marcos, TX, Substantial damage. On January 7, 2026, at approximately 1400 local time, a Cessna 172N aircraft was involved in an accident during an instructional flight maneuver to simulate an…

## Docket (9 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 19, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202304. 13.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19975832&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA092%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Student pilot - statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20044707&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20-%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 569 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19976084&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Flysto - accident flight data excerpts (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19977534&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FlySto%20-%20Accident%20Flight%20Data%20Excerpts-Rel.pdf
- FAA - airplane examination report (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19974292&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA092%20FAA%20Examination%20Report-Rel.pdf
- FAA - record of conversation (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19975420&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA092%20FAA%20ASI%20ROC_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA - aviation instructor's handbook excerpt (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 969 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19976168&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20AIH%20Excerpt-Rel.pdf
- Cessna - 172N checklists (item 8, PDF, 3 pages, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19975778&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Cessna%20172N%20-%20Checklists-Rel.pdf
- Cessna - 172N trim system information (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19976667&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Trim%20System%20Information-Rel.pdf

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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