Cessna 172 and Cessna 172 accident near Brooksville, Florida, June 23, 2026
On June 23, 2026 at about 12:57 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172 (N413AA) and Cessna 172 (N9417Z), were involved in the same accident near Brooksville, Florida (Brooksville-Tampa Bay Rgnl airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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 ensure clearance while taxiing, which resulted in contact with another airplane that was performing an engine run-up.
The student pilot’s failure to ensure clearance while taxiing, which resulted in contact with another airplane that was performing an engine run-up.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2026 · about 12:57 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Brooksville, Florida · Brooksville-Tampa Bay Rgnl · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172 S, built 2000 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N413AA · registry record · serial 172S8413
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172 R, built 1997 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N9417Z · registry record · serial 17280265
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was taxiing airplane for departure and stated that he misjudged his airplane’s wingspan while attempting to pass another airplane that was performing a run-up. The right wing of the taxiing airplane struck the trailing edge and left wing of the stationary airplane, which resulted in substantial damage to the left aileron of the stationary airplane. The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with either 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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was taxiing airplane for departure and stated that he misjudged his airplane’s wingspan while attempting to pass another airplane that was performing a run-up. The right wing of the taxiing airplane struck the trailing edge and left wing of the stationary airplane, which resulted in substantial damage to the left aileron of the stationary airplane. The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with either 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 for the Cessna 172 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 730 hours in all; 660 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 640 as pilot in command; 370 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 31, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 177 hours in all; 177 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,972.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 18, 2026; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 4,518 hours total
- Operator: American Aviation INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 am from BKV
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBKV 231253Z 25005KT 10SM CLR 29/26 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP216 T02940261
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Student/instructed pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 19 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 22, 2026
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,059 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 22, 2026; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 6,062 hours total
- Operator: American Aviation INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – View of both airplanes at the accident site.
Photograph 2 – View of damage to the leading edge of N9417Z.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 August 27, 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 (N9417Z) | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (N413AA) | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | 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.
Other NTSB records under N413AA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N413AA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk 20,687 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,682 aircraft on the register
- N9417Z on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk 20,687 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,682 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 2,650 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 2,650 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Florida 6,111 since 1982 · 987 in the last ten years
- Florida 21,702 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N413AA 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA26LA248.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.