Cessna 172M accident near Lafayette, Tennessee, June 30, 2026
On June 30, 2026 at about 10:47 pm local time, a 1975 Cessna 172M, registered N6814H, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Lafayette, Tennessee (Lafayette Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The passenger’s abrupt manipulation of the flight controls during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control and collision with a fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 2026 · about 10:47 pm local time
- Place
- Lafayette, Tennessee · Lafayette Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M, built 1975 · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N6814H · registry record · serial 17265594
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and the student pilot had just completed a training flight, but still needed to fly back to their home airport. A friend of the pilot sat in the back of the airplane during the training flight. The student pilot asked the instructor if his friend, who had no flight training experience other than a discovery flight, could sit up front for the return flight. The instructor agreed and provided clear instructions to the friend to not touch any of the flight controls during the flight. The friend was asked if he had any questions about the takeoff and he said he had none. During the takeoff roll, the instructor said the friend tapped the left brake with his foot, which resulted in a “slight bump” of the airplane. This motion scared the friend, who then panicked and grabbed the control yoke and pulled it all the way back while moving it to the left. The left wing briefly touched the ground and the friend repeatedly screamed, “I’m sorry!” The friend did not let go of the controls, and the instructor had to wrestle him and repeatedly tell him to let go and that he had the controls. The instructor said he needed both hands to try and overcome the force the friend had on the controls. The instructor was able to get the airplane’s wings level just before it collided with a fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The friend told first responders that he was the one that crashed the airplane and that “it was all his fault.”
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
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Mental/emotional state › Anxiety/panic › Passenger
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Unnecessary action › Passenger
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,321 hours in all; 432.8 in this make and model; 113.8 in the last 90 days; 39.8 in the last 30 days; 1,064 as pilot in command; 340.7 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 15, 2026
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,317.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 27, 2026; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 9,317 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01/1, 5,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from KXNX, 19 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KXNX 302235Z AUTO 24003KT 10SM CLR 36/21 A3009
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Left Side View of Airplane at Accident Site
Photograph 2 – Aft View Looking Forward of Airplane at Accident Site
Photograph 3 – Right Side View of Airplane at Accident SiteThe 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
4 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 | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Mor - Pilot and Passengers | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Written Statements - Passengers | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Investigation Photos | PDF, 4 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.