# NTSB ERA26LA101: Cessna 170, N4178V, Summerdale, AL, January 29, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 29, 2026, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Summerdale, AL · BONNER FLD - Coordinates: 30.479526, -87.696098 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4795&lon=-87.6961&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 7, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202368 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202368/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA101 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to abort the takeoff with insufficient runway remaining, which resulted in a runway overrun and impact with a fence post. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 170, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While attempting to take off from a 2,100-ft-long turf runway the pilot observed an abnormal airspeed indication and aborted the takeoff. The airplane then overran the runway, impacted a fence post with the left main landing gear, and nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. After the accident, the pilot suspected that the pitot tube butterfly cover may have become stuck resulting in the erroneous airspeed indication. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s pitot tube butterfly cover by an FAA inspector revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Had the pilot aborted the takeoff sooner, or continued the takeoff despite the airspeed indication anomaly, it is likely that the accident could have been prevented. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4178V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4178V), registered now, S/N 18511, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170 - Registry model: [Cessna 170](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170) (registry code 2072302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18511 - Year built: 1948 - Airframe hours: 3571.86 - Engines: Continental Motors Company C145 SERIES 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 15, 2026, 2 hours before - Airport: 4AL6, Bonner Fld, runway 36, 1,600 × 160 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 4, 2024; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 12,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 10.4 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: CQF, 9 nm away - METAR: METAR KCQF 291655Z AUTO 08004KT 10SM CLR 11/M04 A3027 RMK AO2 ## 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 20260129000459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260129000459A), Jan 29, 2026: Cessna 170, Summerdale, AL, Substantial damage. Pilot began takeoff roll by applying full power..as the aircraft accelerated the pilot noticed that the airspeed indicator was stuck on 40 KTS. Pilot… 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.