# NTSB CEN26LA139: Cessna 172, N7080T, Denton, TX, March 11, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 11, 2026, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Denton, TX
- Coordinates: 33.201961, -97.199097 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2020&lon=-97.1991&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 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): 202642
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA139
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202642/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202642
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA139

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while in the run-up area in high wind conditions.

## Findings

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

- [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Taxi-to runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, while the airplane was parked in the run-up area and while she was performing her final check before departure, a gust of wind lifted the right wing and tipped the airplane onto its side, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. She stated that the airplane was facing into the wind at the time of the accident. She also reported that she was using the proper flight control inputs for the wind conditions while parked in the run-up area. The reported wind at the time of the accident was 350° at 18 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7080T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7080T), registered now, S/N 46680, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46680
- Year built: 1959
- Engines: Continental O-300A 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Kingdom Planes LLC
- Registered owner: Kingdom Planes LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: DTO, Denton Enterprise
- Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 12, 2025; seat: right; flight hours: 609 total, 530 in this make and model, 108 in the last 90 days
- Co-pilot; age 30; 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: left; flight hours: 1,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: KDTO
- METAR: KDTO 111800Z 35018G25KT 10SM SCT047 23/13 A2996 RMK AO2 T02330133=

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 9, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202642. 2.4 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=20467237&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FORM%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 760 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20478148&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Pilot statements (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20467080&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR_Redacted-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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