# NTSB WPR26FA284: Cessna 172, N1166F, Blackfoot, ID, August 2, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report - Date: August 1, 2026, 23:01 local (Aug 2, 2026, 05:01 UTC) - Place: Blackfoot, ID - Coordinates: 43.215113, -112.34511 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2151&lon=-112.3451&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Unknown: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 203499 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26FA284 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203499/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA284 ## Preliminary report On August 1, 2026, about 2301 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Cessna 172G, N1166F, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Blackfoot, Idaho. The pilot was fatally injured, and the two passengers sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A witness reported the pilot completed 3 takeoffs and landings for night currency before departing on the accident flight about 2300 MDT. Law enforcement received a 911 call reporting an airplane crash on a road adjacent to the airport, about 2301 MDT. No witnesses, surveillance video, or flight data captured the accident flight. The airplane's first point of contact (FPOC) was marked by a ground scar about 33 ft inside the airport's eastern perimeter fence near the northeast corner of the airport. Paint chips, the right-wing tip and other debris extended from the FPOC through the perimeter fence to the main wreckage, which came to rest upright on the adjacent road about 30 ft beyond the airport boundary fence. The debris path was oriented about 058° magnetic, and the airplane came to rest on a heading of about 189° magnetic. Crushing and deformation were observed throughout the fuselage, wings, empennage, cockpit, and landing gear. The right wing exhibited leading-edge crushing and compression, with buckling of the upper and lower wing skins. The wing was bent upward near the root, with deformation extending into the midspan section of the wing. Portions of the wing skin were torn and separated. The left wing exhibited extensive buckling of the outboard wing skin and leading edge. The outboard wing was bent upward and aft, with wrinkling extending inboard. The fuselage was crushed, with substantial damage to the cabin and aft fuselage. The vertical stabilizer and rudder exhibited crushing and deformation. The horizontal stabilizer and elevator were bent and partially separated at their attachment points. The two-bladed McCauley propeller was separated from the engine crankshaft and was located within the debris field. Both blades exhibited extensive chordwise scratches along their surfaces. One blade was separated at the blade tip. The other blade exhibited bending near the outboard end, with the blade tip bent aft along with deformation. The propeller spinner was crushed and extensively deformed. The airplane was retained for further examination. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Unknown: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1166F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1166F), registered now, S/N 17254761, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (G) - Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17254761 - Year built: 1966 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Idaho Skyriders Flying Club - Registered owner: Mortensen Alex - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: U02, Mccarley Fld ## Weather - Conditions: Night - Wind: 160° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KPIH, 20 nm away - METAR: METAR KPIH 020453Z AUTO 16004KT 10SM CLR 26/M01 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP086 T02611006 ## 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 20260801009289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260801009289A), Aug 1, 2026: Cessna 172G, Blackfoot, ID, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Cessna 172G, [privacy data omitted], was substantially damaged when during the takeoff roll the aircraft went off the runway near the eastern perimeter fence… 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.