# NTSB WPR26LA164: Cessna 172S, N2126F, Pacoima, CA, April 20, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: April 20, 2026, 11:07 local (18:07 UTC)
- Place: Pacoima, CA · 13220 Van Nuys Blvd Pacoima, CA 91331 ½ mile northwest of Whiteman Airport KWHP
- Coordinates: 34.266896, -118.4206
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2669&lon=-118.4206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202856
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA164
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202856/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA164

## Preliminary report

On April 20, 2026, about 1107 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172S airplane, N2126F, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Whiteman Airport (WHP), Pacoima, California. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A review of ADS-B data revealed the airplane departed from runway 12 at WHP and remained within the airport traffic pattern. The airplane continued on the downwind leg until it was about 5 nautical miles (nm) northwest of the airport when a left turn to base was made. The data showed that at 1104:03, the airplane continued the turn left onto final for runway 12 at an altitude of 1,775 ft mean sea level (msl) and ground speed of 74 knots. Throughout the final approach leg to the runway, altitude steadily decreased while ground speed fluctuated from 74 knots to 94 knots until 1106:01. Over the final 1 minute, 22 seconds of recorded ADS-B data, the ground speed decreased to approximately 55 knots, and altitude had decreased to about 1,000 ft msl. ADS-B contact was lost about 0.4 nm northwest of the runway 12 threshold. A witness video showed the airplane on final approach to runway 12 as it impacted powerlines and terrain about 0.3 miles northwest of the runway threshold. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination. WHP was a tower controlled airport operating under class-D airspace. The airport is equipped with two runways, runway 12 and runway 30. Runway 12 was equipped with a 2-light Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI), located on the right side of the runway, and set at a 3.8° glideslope.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2126F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2126F), registered now, S/N 172S10458, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S10458
- Year built: 2007
- Airframe hours: 5522.2
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Vista Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, February 12, 2026, 1,321.1 hours before
- Departed: WHP, Pacoima, CA
- Airport: WHP, Whiteman, runway 12, 4,120 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: KWHP, 0.75 nm away
- METAR: METAR KWHP 201755Z 00000KT 10SM SKC 19/06 A3003

## 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 20260420006859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260420006859A), Apr 20, 2026: Cessna 172S, Pacoima, CA, Destroyed. On April 20, 2026, the subject aircraft was leased and then operated by a pilot for recreational purposes. While doing pattern work and on approach to runway…

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.

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