Textron Aviation INC 172S accident near Augusta, Kansas, January 31, 2026
On January 31, 2026 at about 3:50 pm local time, a 2023 Textron Aviation INC 172S, registered N767VK, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Augusta, Kansas (Augusta Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s failure to maintain control during the takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 2026 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Augusta, Kansas · Augusta Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Textron Aviation INC 172S, built 2023
- Registration
- N767VK · registry record · serial 172S13021
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot planned to perform three takeoffs and landings, and one go-around for her solo flight. After completing the third landing, the student pilot stated that she still needed to perform a go-around and decided to take off for a fourth time. After she applied takeoff power, the airplane began to drift toward the left edge of the runway. To avoid going into the snow, she rotated and “tried to make it fly.” The airplane became partially airborne before it touched back down. The pilot then applied the brakes and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted in the snow next to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and vertical stabilizer. The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 57 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,532.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 21, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 2,065 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-260-L2A (piston); 1,533 hours total
- Operator: Textron Aviation Employees Flying Club INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18/3, 4,501 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 7°F (-14°C), dew point -2°F (-19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.65 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 am from KAAO, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KAAO 311554Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M14/M19 A3065 RMK AO2 SLP411 T11441189
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on May 21, 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 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | 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.