Textron Aviation INC 172S accident near Jacksonville, Florida, October 16, 2026
On October 16, 2026 at about 4:45 pm local time, a 2023 Textron Aviation INC 172S, registered N234EP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Jacksonville, Florida (Herlong Recreational 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 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 16, 2026 · about 4:45 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Jacksonville, Florida · Herlong Recreational · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Textron Aviation INC 172S, built 2023
- Registration
- N234EP · registry record · serial 172S13098
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,668.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 24, 2026
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Epic Aviation INC
The flight
- Runway 25, 4,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from HEG
Weather report (METAR): METAR KHEG 161635Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM BKN048 BKN055 29/18 A3008 RMK AO2 TSNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N234EP on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Herlong Recreational Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Florida 6,111 since 1982 · 988 in the last ten years
- Florida 21,696 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA27LA014.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.