# NTSB ERA26LA186: Cessna 172M, N868SA, Crystal River, FL, April 22, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Investigation open
- Date: April 22, 2026, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Crystal River, FL
- Coordinates: 28.867391, -82.570649 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8674&lon=-82.5706&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202879
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA186
- Latest NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202879/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA186

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N868SA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N868SA), registered now, S/N 17266439 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17266439
- Year built: 1975
- Airframe hours: 6925
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Crystal Aero Group
- Registered owner: S O W Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 14, 2025
- Airport: CGC, Crystal River/Davis Fld, runway 36, 2,666 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: KCGC
- METAR: METAR KCGC 221755Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM BKN060 26/11 A3020 RMK AO2

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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