# NTSB ERA26LA227: Cessna 172R, N870CP, Maiden, NC, March 22, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 22, 2026, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Maiden, NC · airport property - Coordinates: 35.577884, -81.111029 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5779&lon=-81.1110&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 27, 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): 203119 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA227 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203119/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203119 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA227 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in a rejected takeoff from a tailwind departure and subsequent runway excursion. ## 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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/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 172R, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that the purpose of the flight was to reposition the airplane to a nearby airport to practice soft-field takeoffs and landings from a 2,000-ft-long, turf runway. During the repositioning flight, he reported that the wind was from the south-southwest at an estimated velocity of 4 knots. After landing on runway 5, the student performed an uneventful takeoff and landing on runway 23. The flight instructor then elected to back-taxi to runway 5 and demonstrate a soft-field takeoff. During the initial ground effect phase of the takeoff, the flight instructor observed an indicated airspeed of about 40 knots near midfield and that the airplane was not climbing. He then elected to reject the takeoff, and with insufficient runway remaining to stop, he reduced the engine power to idle, moved the mixture control to the idle cutoff position, applied the brakes, and maneuvered the airplane off the left side of the runway to avoid unsuitable terrain off the departure end of the runway. During the ground roll, the propeller impacted a roadway, and the lower fuselage of the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the airplane was departing from runway 5. A weather reporting facility about 7 miles south of the accident airport reported that the wind was from 240° at 7 knots, which would have resulted in a tailwind during the takeoff. It is likely that the airplane’s ground roll was increased as a result of this tailwind, which ultimately resulted in the flight instructor’s decision to abort the takeoff and the subsequent runway excursion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N870CP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N870CP), registered now, S/N 17280666, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280666 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 16056.9 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Avolant Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 30, 2026, 70 hours before - Departed: N92, Maiden, NC - Destination: 14A, Mooresville, NC - Airport: N92, Laneys Airport, runway 05, 2,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 21; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 17, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,212.7 total, 1,173 in this make and model, 1,133.8 as pilot in command, 167.8 in the last 90 days, 50.8 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 47; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 15, 2026; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 123.4 total, 123 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 34.5 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: IPJ, 6 nm away - METAR: KIPJ 221715Z AUTO 24007KT 10SM CLR 29/13 A2990 RMK AO2 T02890127 ## 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 20260322010629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260322010629A), Mar 22, 2026: Cessna 172R, Maiden, NC, Substantial damage. On March 22, 2026, at approximately 01:12PM (EDT), a Cessna 172 was substantially damaged at Laney'S airport (N92), off runway 05 approximately 150FT to the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203119. 2.3 MB in all. - NTSB 6120 1 form (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20677152&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%201%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 659 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20671170&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.