- Date
- January 14, 2026, 08:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Kingman, AZ · Private Dirt Runway
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N7783UCessna 172E
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 16, 2026
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20260114003039A
- Case key
- 202300
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to use a pre-takeoff checklist, which resulted in the fuel selector being in the off position, and subsequent loss of engine power during takeoff.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the airplane reported that during the takeoff roll from a private dirt airstrip, the engine suddenly lost power. As he scanned the instrument panel and engine controls, he observed the fuel selector valve lever in the OFF position. He switched the fuel selector valve to BOTH and noticed that the propeller had stopped turning. Subsequently, the airplane exited the departure end of the runway, impacted a ditch, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left lift strut, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, the pilot reported that he should have used the checklist. (Fuel was in the “OFF” position).
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7783U
- Reported as
- Cessna 172E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17251783
- Built
- 1964
- Airframe hours
- 4,717.4
- Engine
- Continental O-300-D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 12, 2025 · 3.1 hours before
- Destination
- IGM · Kingman, AZ
- Airport
- PVT · Private, runway None, 1,500 × 20 ft, dirt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, Handheld GPS
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 66
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 5, 2025
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 2,763 total · 1,049 in this make and model · 2,672 as pilot in command · 9.4 in the last 90 days · 4.2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.35 inHg
- Observed at
- KIGM, 7 nm away
- METAR
- METAR KIGM 141751Z AUTO 36009KT 10SM CLR 14/M03 A3035 RMK AO2 SLP239 T01391033 10139 20033 53007
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 16, 2026, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.9 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.