# NTSB CEN26LA187: Cessna 172S, N2134M, Denton, TX, May 13, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: May 13, 2026, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place: Denton, TX
- Coordinates: 33.201961, -97.199097
- 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: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA - North Texas FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202991
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA187
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202991/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA187

## Preliminary report

On May 13, 2026, about 1815 central daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N2134M, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Denton, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that during takeoff roll the airplane hit something on the runway (later determined to be a gas cap from another airplane) that caused the airplane to become airborne below normal rotation (Vr) speed. The pilot stated that he attempted to reduce airplane pitch by pushing the yoke in, but the yoke was stuck and would not move. The airplane drifted to the left which the pilot attempted to counter with aileron and rudder input. Since he was unable to lower the nose of the airplane, and he was only about 5 to 7 feet above the ground, he elected to reduce engine power and the airplane impacted the ground.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2134M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2134M), registered now, S/N 172S9552, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S9552
- Year built: 2003
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: US Aviation Academy
- Registered owner: Christiansen Aviation LLC
- Destination: KMWL, Mineral Wells, TX
- Airport: DTO, Denton Enterprise Airport

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: KDTO
- METAR: METAR KDTO 132253Z 12005KT 10SM CLR 32/15 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP142 T03170150

## Other investigations on N2134M (1)

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.

- [NTSB WPR13CA397](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA397), Sep 1, 2013: Cessna 172S (N2134M), Deer Valley, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's inadequate flare and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action and failure to maintain control of the airplane during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the…

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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