Cessna 172 accident near Greensboro, North Carolina, June 27, 2026
On June 27, 2026 at about 1:30 pm local time, a 1970 Cessna 172, registered N7764G, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) operating) near Greensboro, North Carolina (Piedmont Triad Intl. airport). It was an instructional 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s improper decision to leave the airplane with the engine running, which resulted in the airplane rolling forward and impacting a hangar.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2026 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Greensboro, North Carolina · Piedmont Triad Intl. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 L, built 1970 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N7764G · registry record · serial 17259464
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor stated that after the engine was started, he realized that the wheel chocks were still in place and not been removed from the left main landing gear. The flight instructor told the new student pilot to press the brake pedals with his feet while got out and removed the chocks. After the flight instructor climbed out of the airplane, it started to roll forward and impacted a hangar, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing’s leading edge. The flight instructor stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of 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 standing (engine(s) operating)
- Ground handling event during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Parking/securing › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
Flight instructor
- 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: 2,172 hours in all; 1,414 in this make and model; 145 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2,085 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 18, 2026
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 4 hours in all; 4 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,142.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 4, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 2,265 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 700 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 am from GSO
Weather report (METAR): METAR KGSO 291354Z 06007KT 10SM BKN007 OVC014 24/22 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP187 T02440222
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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 September 11, 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 | Investigative 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA26LA264.