# NTSB CEN26LA143: Cessna 172P, N65614, Denton, TX, March 20, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: March 20, 2026, 14:15 local (19:15 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: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202679
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA143
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202679/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA143

## Preliminary report

On March 20, 2026, about 1415 central daylight time, a Cessna 172P airplane, N65614, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Denton, Texas. The pilot sustained minor injuries, and the pilot-rated sensor operator sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation flight. The pilot reported that during the initial climb, about 200 ft above ground level, he could “feel and hear” a partial loss of engine power and observed a drop in engine RPM. He attempted to restore full engine power by moving the mixture lever full forward and applying carburetor heat. However, the engine continued to lose power. The pilot advised the Air Traffic tower controller, "Pipeline 614 lost our engine." The sensor operator called out possible landing areas, noting "a field to the right," but the pilot stated that he determined landing straight ahead on the remaining runway was the safest option, with about half of the runway remaining. The pilot reduced the throttle to idle, began a forward slip, lowered the flaps, and began to fly gentle S-turns. He then realized he would not have enough room to land on the remaining runway, moved the throttle lever to full forward, pitched the airplane up to climb, and retracted the flaps in an attempt to clear the trees. He stated that he may have felt a “small jolt” of power from the engine as he pitched up. The airplane descended through the trees and came to rest upright. During the accident sequence, the right wing was separated and consumed by a post-impact fire. The right horizontal stabilizer was separated, and the fuselage, empennage, and left wing were substantially damaged. The wreckage was transported to a secure facility for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N65614](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N65614), registered now, S/N 17275785, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275785
- Year built: 1982
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Operator: American Patrols Inc
- Registered owner: American Patrols Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: 7T7, Midland, TX
- Airport: DTO, Denton Enterprise, runway 18L/36R, 7,002 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: KDTO
- METAR: METAR KDTO 201853Z 23012KT 10SM CLR 29/12 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP149 T02890117

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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