# NTSB CEN26LA106: Cessna 172, N51204, Lafayette, IN, January 28, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 28, 2026, 10:07 local (15:07 UTC) - Place: Lafayette, IN - Coordinates: 40.171, -86.958 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1710&lon=-86.9580&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 13, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202383 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202383/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202383 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA106 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student during a stall recovery that developed into unusual attitude and exceedance of the airplane’s never exceed airspeed which resulted in structural damage to the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student departed on a local instructional flight which was the student pilot’s third flight lesson to practice maneuvers. During a power-off stall recovery, the student pilot excessively pitched the airplane down and added full throttle. The student pilot froze on the controls and before the flight instructor could gain control of the airplane, the airplane accelerated past the “never exceed” (Vne) airspeed. The flight instructor slowed the airplane below Vne and gently recovered the airplane out of the dive. Suspecting structural damage, the pilot declared an emergency and return back to the airport without further incident. A post flight examination found damage to both wings and vertical stabilizer. The flight instructor reported that the accident could have been prevented with a “[m]ore complete briefing prior to completing any training maneuver” and “[p]roper preparedness to respond to incorrect/dangerous student actions.” The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51204](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51204), registered now, S/N 17274279 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (P) - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17274279 - Year built: 1980 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Purdue Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Purdue Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KLAF, Lafayette, IN - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: LAF - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 28, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 331 total, 125 in this make and model, 277 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2 total, 1 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -4 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: KLAF, 14 nm away - METAR: METAR KLAF 281454Z 25003KT 10SM CLR M18/M20 A3028 RMK AO2 SLP268 T11781200 56002= ## 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 20260128001279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260128001279A), Jan 28, 2026: Cessna 172P, Lafayette, IN, Substantial damage. Cessna 172P departed klaf in VMC conditions on an instructional flight. Instructor and student practiced flight manuevers and numerous power off stall… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 13, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202383. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 693 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19922794&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=cen26la106%20ntsb%20form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 5 photos, 901 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19923090&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20cen26la106-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.