Cessna 172 accident near San Marcos, Texas, January 7, 2026
On January 7, 2026 at about 8:03 pm local time, a 1978 Cessna 172, registered N5136E, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near San Marcos, Texas (San Marcos Rgnl airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s failure to properly configure the elevator trim for the takeoff, that resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s failure to follow the before takeoff checklist.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 7, 2026 · about 8:03 pm local time
- Place
- San Marcos, Texas · San Marcos Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 N, built 1978 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5136E · registry record · serial 17271729
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor was going to demonstrate to the pilot receiving instruction, a short-field takeoff, with a simulated loss of engine power, as required per the flight school lesson plan. The flight instructor reported that he configured the airplane for the takeoff. Once the airplane had climbed to about 100 ft agl, he reduced the engine power to idle and began the descent back to the runway. The flight instructor noticed that the flight controls “seemed heavy” and the airplane was “descending fast.” The airplane landed hard on the runway and came to rest upright. The airplane taxied to the ramp without further incident, the airplane was shut down, and both occupants departed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane found the elevator trim was set to the full nose down position for the takeoff. The operator reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The operator further reported that the accident could have been prevented if the flight instructor had adhered to the published maneuver procedure and profile, for the maneuver that was being demonstrated. The airplane’s before takeoff checklist includes a step to configure the elevator trim for the takeoff. The FAA Aviation Instructor’s Handbook FAA-8083-9B discusses checklists and states in part: Checklists are essential flight deck resources for verifying that the aircraft instruments and systems are checked, set, and operating properly, as well as ensuring that the proper procedures are performed if there is a system malfunction or inflight emergency.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Simulated/training event during takeoff
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff defining event
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Simulated/training event during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Elevator control system › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 564 hours in all; 515 in this make and model; 185 in the last 90 days; 62 in the last 30 days; 357 as pilot in command; 225 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 16, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,199.8 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 535.4 as pilot in command; 292.7 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 4, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,289.9 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 1, 2025; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming Engines O-360-A4M (piston); 1,621 hours total
- Operator: US Aviation Academy
The flight
- Departed from: HYI San Marcos TX at 8:03 pm
- Destination: HYI San Marcos TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17/3, 5,214 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from KHYI
Weather report (METAR): KHYI 071956Z 16011KT 6SM HZ CLR 26/18 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP111 T02560183 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – View of the substantial damage sustained to the lower fuselage near the cockpit
Photograph 2 – View of the substantial damage sustained to the lower fuselage near the cockpit
Photograph 3 – View of the substantial damage sustained to the lower fuselage near the cockpitThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on March 19, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Student Pilot - Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Flysto - Accident Flight Data Excerpts | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | FAA - Airplane Examination Report | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 6 | FAA - Record of Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | FAA - Aviation Instructor's Handbook Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Cessna - 172N Checklists | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Cessna - 172N Trim System Information | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.