# NTSB ERA26LA255: Cessna 172M, N6814H, Lafayette, TN, June 30, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 30, 2026, 17:47 local (22:47 UTC) - Place: Lafayette, TN · On Airport - Coordinates: 36.530075, -86.027083 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5301&lon=-86.0271&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 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): 203294 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA255 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203294/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203294 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA255 ## Probable cause The passenger’s abrupt manipulation of the flight controls during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control and collision with a fence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Mental/emotional state: anxiety/panic](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022515): Personnel issues › Psychological · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022515/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022515/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 59 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: unnecessary action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045/cases.md) ## 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) ## Analysis The flight instructor and the student pilot had just completed a training flight, but still needed to fly back to their home airport. A friend of the pilot sat in the back of the airplane during the training flight. The student pilot asked the instructor if his friend, who had no flight training experience other than a discovery flight, could sit up front for the return flight. The instructor agreed and provided clear instructions to the friend to not touch any of the flight controls during the flight. The friend was asked if he had any questions about the takeoff and he said he had none. During the takeoff roll, the instructor said the friend tapped the left brake with his foot, which resulted in a “slight bump” of the airplane. This motion scared the friend, who then panicked and grabbed the control yoke and pulled it all the way back while moving it to the left. The left wing briefly touched the ground and the friend repeatedly screamed, “I’m sorry!” The friend did not let go of the controls, and the instructor had to wrestle him and repeatedly tell him to let go and that he had the controls. The instructor said he needed both hands to try and overcome the force the friend had on the controls. The instructor was able to get the airplane’s wings level just before it collided with a fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The friend told first responders that he was the one that crashed the airplane and that “it was all his fault.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6814H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6814H), registered now, S/N 17265594, built 1975 (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: 17265594 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 9317.8 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 27, 2026, 8 hours before - Airport: 3M7, Lafayette Muni, runway 01/19, 5,200 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 15, 2026; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,321 total, 432.8 in this make and model, 1,064 as pilot in command, 113.8 in the last 90 days, 39.8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KXNX, 19 nm away - METAR: METAR KXNX 302235Z AUTO 24003KT 10SM CLR 36/21 A3009 ## 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 20260630008709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260630008709A), Jun 30, 2026: Cessna 172M, Lafayette, TN, Substantial damage. Three people were onboard the aircraft. The certified flight instructor (CFI) was in the front right seat, a non-flying passenger was in the left seat and a… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203294. 21.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 18.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20716677&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Final_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA mor - pilot and passengers (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20716383&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20MOR%20-%20Pilot%20and%20Passengers_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Written statements - passengers (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 878 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20752322&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Written%20Statement%20-%20Front%20Seat%20and%20Rear%20Seat%20Passengers_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 382 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20716473&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%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.