# NTSB CEN26LA265: Piper PA-28-180, N454MD, Bulverde, TX, July 20, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: July 20, 2026, 13:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place: Bulverde, TX
- Coordinates: 29.739365, -98.451294
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7394&lon=-98.4513&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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203440
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA265
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203440/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA265

## Preliminary report

On July 20, 2026, about 1340 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N454MD was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bulberde, Texas. The flight instructor and student pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that they had been performing takeoff and landing practice and had accomplished three successful takeoffs and landings. On the forth takeoff, when the airplane was 50 to 60 ft above the ground, the engine stopped producing power. A forced landing was executed, during which, the airplane struck trees and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage surfaces. The airplane has been retained 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: [Piper PA-28-180, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N454MD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N454MD), registered now, S/N 28-3125, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-3125
- Year built: 1966
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: 1T8, Bulverde Airpark, runway 17/35, 2,783 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: KSAT, 12 nm away
- METAR: METAR KSAT 201751Z 17006KT 10SM FEW250 32/21 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP132 T03170206 10322 20239 58013

## 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 20260720013009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260720013009A), Jul 20, 2026: Piper PA-28-180, Bulverde, TX, Substantial damage. On 20 jul 2026, at approximately 14:00 CDT, a flight instructor and her student took off from runway 17 at Bulverde airport (1T8) in Bulverde, TX in a Piper…

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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