Cessna 172 accident near Topeka, Kansas, April 17, 2026
On April 17, 2026, a 1969 Cessna 172, registered N84794, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Topeka, Kansas (Philip Billard Municipal Airpo 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 situational awareness while taxiing which resulted in a collision with fence poles on either side of a gate which was not intended for airplanes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2026
- Place
- Topeka, Kansas · Philip Billard Municipal Airpo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 K, built 1969 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N84794 · registry record · serial 17258615
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The operator reported that the student pilot was cleared by air traffic control to taxi behind another airplane. While taxiing, the other airplane witnessed the student pilot turn the airplane off the taxiway, taxi through a row of hangars, and onto the main vehicle access road that led into the airport. The student pilot then attempted to taxi the airplane through an access gate (for cars) that was too narrow for the airplane, and both wings struck the gate posts which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. An airport rescue and fire fighter asked the pilot to recount the moments before impact with the gate. The student pilot stated, “to be honest, I forgot I had wings.” The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Awareness of condition
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 17 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,144.1 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 19, 2026
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 2,144 hours total
- Operator: Odyssey Aircraft LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KTOP
Weather report (METAR): METAR KTOP 162353Z 17011KT 10SM CLR 26/15 A2976 RMK AO2 SLP074 T02560150 10283 20256 55009=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 9, 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, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statement - Arff | PDF, 3 pages | 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.