# NTSB CEN26LA104: Textron 172S, N767VK, Augusta, KS, January 31, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 31, 2026, 09:50 local (15:50 UTC) - Place: Augusta, KS - Coordinates: 37.669834, -97.078026 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6698&lon=-97.0780&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 202373 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202373/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202373 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA104 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain control during the takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot planned to perform three takeoffs and landings, and one go-around for her solo flight. After completing the third landing, the student pilot stated that she still needed to perform a go-around and decided to take off for a fourth time. After she applied takeoff power, the airplane began to drift toward the left edge of the runway. To avoid going into the snow, she rotated and “tried to make it fly.” The airplane became partially airborne before it touched back down. The pilot then applied the brakes and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted in the snow next to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and vertical stabilizer. The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N767VK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N767VK), registered now, S/N 172S13021, built 2023 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TEXTRON AVIATION INC 172S - Registry model: [Textron 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/textron-172s) (registry code 2072449) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S13021 - Year built: 2023 - Airframe hours: 1532.8 - Engines: Lycoming IO-260-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Textron Aviation Employees Flying Club Inc - Registered owner: Textron Aviation Employees Flying Club Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 21, 2025 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 3AU, Augusta Muni, runway 18/36, 4,501 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 57 total, 56 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 7 °F, dew point -2 °F - Altimeter: 30.65 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KAAO, 8 nm away - METAR: METAR KAAO 311554Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M14/M19 A3065 RMK AO2 SLP411 T11441189 ## 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 20260131003519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260131003519A), Jan 31, 2026: Textron Aviation Inc 172S, Augusta, KS, Substantial damage. On 01/31/2026 at Augusta Municipal Airport, Augusta, KS (3AU). A student pilot conducting initial solo flight landing on runway 36. After completing a taxi… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 21, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202373. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20271336&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 311 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20272620&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.