Cessna 172M accident near Lakeland, Florida, April 5, 2026
On April 5, 2026 at about 4:07 am local time, a 1975 Cessna 172M, registered N61972, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Lakeland, Florida (Lakeland Linder Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 2026 · about 4:07 am local time
- Place
- Lakeland, Florida · Lakeland Linder Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M, built 1975 · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N61972 · registry record · serial 17264928
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 05, 2026, at 0007 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M airplane, N61972, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lakeland, Florida. The pilot and certified flight instructor (CFI) rated passenger were uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was conducting touch-and-go landings at Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL), Lakeland, Florida. About 3 to 4 seconds after his ninth takeoff, the airplane pitched up uncontrollably to an unusually high attitude. The pilot attempted to pitch the nose of the airplane down; by applying full forward pressure to the control yoke. Realizing the flap switch was in the down position, he moved it up but still struggled to correct for the nose high attitude. The CFI rated passenger assisted the pilot on the airplane’s flight controls, and together they were able to obtain a level flight attitude. The CFI rated passenger then retarded the throttle to idle, and believing the engine was no longer producing power, declared an emergency with the air traffic control tower. He then maneuvered the airplane toward a lighted airport cargo ramp near the departure end of the runway. The airplane landed hard between the cargo ramp and a taxiway, impacted a berm and nosed over, coming to rest inverted. Surveillance video captured the accident sequence and showed that after touchdown, the airplane bounced, impacted the nose wheel on the ground, before nosing over and coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, wings and vertical stabilizer. The airplane was equipped with an Electronics International Incorporated CGR-30 engine monitor. The airplane and its engine monitoring system were retained for further examination.
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
- Flight control sys malf/fail during takeoff
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,648 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 2026
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Smtm Holdings INC
The flight
- Departed from: ORL Orlando FL at 2:27 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 8,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLAL 060350Z 00000KT 10SM SKC 22/21 A3009
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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.