# NTSB ERA26LA264: Cessna 172, N7764G, Greensboro, NC, June 27, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 27, 2026, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Greensboro, NC - Coordinates: 36.097622, -79.932888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0976&lon=-79.9329&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 11, 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): 203350 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA264 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203350/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203350 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA264 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s improper decision to leave the airplane with the engine running, which resulted in the airplane rolling forward and impacting a hangar. ## 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 172L, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Parking/securing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011000): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect use/operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011000/cases.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md) - [Standing-engine(s) operating: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that after the engine was started, he realized that the wheel chocks were still in place and not been removed from the left main landing gear. The flight instructor told the new student pilot to press the brake pedals with his feet while got out and removed the chocks. After the flight instructor climbed out of the airplane, it started to roll forward and impacted a hangar, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing’s leading edge. The flight instructor stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7764G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7764G), registered now, S/N 17259464, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (L) - Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17259464 - Year built: 1970 - Airframe hours: 4142.84 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 4, 2025 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: GSO, Piedmont Triad IntL. - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 38; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 18, 2026; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,172 total, 1,414 in this make and model, 2,085 as pilot in command, 145 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; injuries: none; student; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4 total, 4 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 700 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: GSO - METAR: METAR KGSO 291354Z 06007KT 10SM BKN007 OVC014 24/22 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP187 T02440222 ## 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 20260627007059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260627007059A), Jun 27, 2026: Cessna 172L, Greensboro, NC, Substantial damage. On June 27, 2026, at approximately 1400 UTC (1000 EDT), a Cessna 172 sustained substantial damage in a hangar area of the Piedmont Triad international airport… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203350. 43.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 43.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20761766&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 432 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20766463&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.