Cessna 172 accident near Blackfoot, Idaho, August 2, 2026
On August 2, 2026 at about 5:01 am local time, a 1966 Cessna 172, registered N1166F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Blackfoot, Idaho (Mccarley Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
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
- August 2, 2026 · about 5:01 am local time
- Place
- Blackfoot, Idaho · Mccarley Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 G, built 1966 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N1166F · registry record · serial 17254761
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 1, 2026, about 2301 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Cessna 172G, N1166F, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Blackfoot, Idaho. The pilot was fatally injured, and the two passengers sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A witness reported the pilot completed 3 takeoffs and landings for night currency before departing on the accident flight about 2300 MDT. Law enforcement received a 911 call reporting an airplane crash on a road adjacent to the airport, about 2301 MDT. No witnesses, surveillance video, or flight data captured the accident flight. The airplane's first point of contact (FPOC) was marked by a ground scar about 33 ft inside the airport's eastern perimeter fence near the northeast corner of the airport. Paint chips, the right-wing tip and other debris extended from the FPOC through the perimeter fence to the main wreckage, which came to rest upright on the adjacent road about 30 ft beyond the airport boundary fence. The debris path was oriented about 058° magnetic, and the airplane came to rest on a heading of about 189° magnetic. Crushing and deformation were observed throughout the fuselage, wings, empennage, cockpit, and landing gear. The right wing exhibited leading-edge crushing and compression, with buckling of the upper and lower wing skins. The wing was bent upward near the root, with deformation extending into the midspan section of the wing. Portions of the wing skin were torn and separated. The left wing exhibited extensive buckling of the outboard wing skin and leading edge. The outboard wing was bent upward and aft, with wrinkling extending inboard. The fuselage was crushed, with substantial damage to the cabin and aft fuselage. The vertical stabilizer and rudder exhibited crushing and deformation. The horizontal stabilizer and elevator were bent and partially separated at their attachment points. The two-bladed McCauley propeller was separated from the engine crankshaft and was located within the debris field. Both blades exhibited extensive chordwise scratches along their surfaces. One blade was separated at the blade tip. The other blade exhibited bending near the outboard end, with the blade tip bent aft along with deformation. The propeller spinner was crushed and extensively deformed. The airplane was 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
- Miscellaneous/other during unknown defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Idaho Skyriders Flying Club
The flight
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from KPIH, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPIH 020453Z AUTO 16004KT 10SM CLR 26/M01 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP086 T02611006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.