# NTSB ERA26LA143: Cessna 172, N972WW, Carthage, NC, March 1, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 1, 2026, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Carthage, NC - Coordinates: 35.340873, -79.435695 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3409&lon=-79.4357&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - 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: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202621 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202621/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202621 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA143 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees while on final approach for landing. Contributing to the accident were the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial actions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The purpose of the flight was for the pilot to gain experience with soft and short field landings with a flight instructor. The pilot stated that after departing, they proceeded to a nearby airport, whose runway was about 2,500 ft-long by 36 ft-wide. After completing a successful landing, they remained in the pattern for another short field landing. While on final approach, the airplane was too far to the right of the runway centerline. At an altitude of about 50 to 60 ft above ground level, the airplane’s right wing struck the tops of trees that were close the runway edge and were difficult to see due to the position of the sun. After impacting the trees, the pilot performed a go-around. The airplane operated normally and the pilot and the instructor decided to return to an airport with longer runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing had sustained substantial damage. Both the pilot and the instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N972WW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N972WW), registered now, S/N 172S9072, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S) - 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: 172S9072 - Year built: 2002 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Chapel Hill Flying Club Inc DBA - Registered owner: Chapel Hill Flying Club Inc DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: TTA, Sanford, NC - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: BQ1, Gilliam - Mc Connell Airfield, runway 31, 2,538 × 36 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 26, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 166 total, 20 in this make and model, 64 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days - Flight instructor; age 87; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, unknown; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 17,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: SOP, 7 nm away - METAR: METAR KSOP 012256Z AUTO 19003KT 10SM CLR 19/09 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP212 T01940094 PNO $= ## 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 20260301002039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260301002039A), Mar 1, 2026: Cessna 172S, Carthage, NC, Substantial damage. During an instructional flight, the CE-172 struck tree tops with right wing while on final aprroach to runway 31 at BQ1. A go around was executed. Pilots… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 9, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202621. 6.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20434988&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%206120%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20435176&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=20260403095111_001_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - flight instructor email (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20433988&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Instructor%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Mor - damage summary (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20434597&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Damage%20Size_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 5, PDF, 7 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20434395&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-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. --- 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.