Abnormal runway contact: Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP, N1071Z, accident occurred on February 28, 2026, at Centennial Airport (APA/KAPA), Denver, Colorado

• Location: Denver, Colorado 
• Accident Number: CEN26LA133 
• Date & Time: February 28, 2026, 11:45 Local 
• Registration: N1071Z
• Aircraft: Cessna 172S 
• Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
• Defining Event: Abnormal runway contact 
• Injuries: 1 None
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal 

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202604/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202604

The student pilot was landing the airplane after a solo practice flight. During the landing he recalled that the airplane touched down for a few seconds then went airborne again a few feet above the runway. The pilot lowered the nose of the airplane and the airplane landed hard and flat. A security camera video of the event showed the airplane dip momentarily on short final before touch down, followed by a bounced landing where pitch was held relatively steady, followed by a second bounce. The nose of the airplane pitched down and the airplane touched down nose landing gear first, followed by another bounce up and another pitch down after which the airplane stayed on the runway and rolled out. Post event inspection of the airplane showed that the fuselage sustained substantial damage. 

The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

- Probable Cause: The solo student pilot's improper landing flare and subsequent improper recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.

Cessna 172G Skyhawk, N1166F, fatal accident occurred on August 1, 2026, at McCarley Field Airport (U02), Blackfoot, Idaho

 This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N1166F

- History of Flight:
On August 1, 2026, at about 2300 local time, a privately-registered Cessna 172G Skyhawk, N1166F, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident at McCarley Field Airport (U02), Blackfoot, Idaho. The private pilot sustained fatal injuries, and two passengers were seriously injured.

Preliminary flight-tracking history shows that the airplane arrived at Blackfoot earlier in the day following a flight from Pocatello Regional Airport (PIH/KPIH), Pocatello, Idaho. Flightradar 24 shows that the airplane was conducting a series of touch-and-go(es) at the airport at about 2243.

The FAA reported that the airplane was in the landing phase when it went off the runway and through a fence. The FAA reported the accident time as 2042. Local media reported the accident time as 2300.

The pilot, aged 27, held a very recently issued private pilot certificate with a first class FAA medical that was issued on February 2026. The online FAA records shows (a now outdated) student pilot certificate that was issued on 10/9/2021.

U02 is a non-towered public airport located 1 mile north of Blackfoot, Idaho. The airport field elevation is 4491.6 ft. The airport features a single asphalt runway 1/19 that is 4314 x 75 ft.

The airplane came to rest across Teeples Drive which is a road that runs parallel to the runway.

Photos from the scene shows that the airplane went through the airport fence and across the road before coming to rest nose down. There was no post crash fire. Both wings remained attached to the airframe and sustained impact damage. The tail was bent downwards and remained partially attached to the fuselage. The nose was crushed aft. The fuselage showed various degrees of impact damage. One of the landing gears was noted in the debris path on the road leading to the main wreckage.

Given this information, the airplane was most likely landing on runway 1 when it departed the right side towards the departure end before going through the airport fence. The damage to the airplane suggests it went through the fence with a substantial amount of forward airspeed.

Figure 1: Debris path across road

Figure 2: Likely path

Figure 3: Google Earth view of Teeples Drive with wreckage photos and references taken to determine final resting position

- Weather:
At 2000 LT:

METAR KPIH 020153Z 26004KT 10SM CLR 36/03 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP089 T03560028

METAR KPIH 020253Z 18005KT 10SM CLR 30/04 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP086 T03000039 56012

METAR KIDA 020153Z 22007KT 10SM CLR 34/M01 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP101 T03441011

METAR KIDA 020253Z AUTO 21005KT 10SM CLR 30/02 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP101 T03000022 56011

At 2300 LT:

METAR KPIH 020453Z AUTO 16004KT 10SM CLR 26/M01 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP086 T02611006

METAR KPIH 020553Z AUTO 22003KT 10SM CLR 21/02 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP088 T02110017 10383 20211 51005

METAR KIDA 020453Z AUTO 22007KT 10SM CLR 25/03 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP097 T02500028

METAR KIDA 020553Z AUTO 23006KT 10SM CLR 23/04 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP095 T02280039 10378 20194 51002

Zenith CH-750 STOL, N531SM, incident occurred on July 31, 2026, near Toccoa, Georgia

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N531SM

- History of Flight:
On July 31, 2026, at about 1909 local time, a privately-registered Zenith CH-750 STOL, N531SM, sustained unknown damage following a forced landing near Toccoa, Georgia. The pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Habersham County Airport (AJR/KAJR), Cornelia, Georgia, at 1859.

The FAA reported that the pilot declared an emergency due to oil leaking onto the windshield and made an emergency landing in a field. 

Preliminary ADS-B data shows the airplane on a climbing right turn to an altitude of 2,100 ft before it initiated a descent and landed in a field.

Figure 1: ADS-B exchange track, note earlier flight from CZL and landing at KAJR are seen

Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II, N430DS, incident occurred on July 31, 2026, at Delaware Airpark (33N), Dover/Cheswold, Delaware

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N430DS

- History of Flight:
On July 31, 2026, at about 1656 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II, N430DS, registered to the Delaware State University, sustained unknown damage when it landed and veered off runway 27 into a ditch at Delaware Airpark (33N), Dover/Cheswold, Delaware. The pilot was not injured. The local flight originated at 1504.

The airplane conducted one touch-and-go at Summit (KEVY) before returning to 33N and continuing a series of touch and go(es).

Van's RV-8, N365DA, incident occurred on July 31, 2026, at Clermont County Airport (I69), Batavia, Ohio

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N365DA

- History of Flight:
On July 31, 2026, at about 1300 local time, a privately-registered Van's RV-8, N365DA, sustained unknown damage when it suffered a loss of directional control and subsequent ground loop during a landing attempt at Clermont County Airport (I69), Batavia, Ohio. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Lancaster County-Mc Whirter Field (LKR/KLKR), Lancaster, South Carolina, at 1035.

Commander 114TC, N158TZ, incident occurred on July 31, 2026, at Newberry County Airport (EOE/KEOE), Newberry, South Carolina

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N158TZ

- History of Flight:
On July 30, 2026, at about 1110 local time, a privately-registered Commander 114TC, N158TZ, sustained unknown damage when it was taxiing for departure when the engine caught on fire at Newberry County Airport (EOE/KEOE), Newberry, South Carolina. The pilot was not injured.

Flight-tracking history shows that the airplane arrived at the airport on April 16, 2026, following a flight from Zephyrhills, Florida.

Cessna 180 Skywagon, N2332C, accident occurred on July 30, 2026, in Nenana, Alaska

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N2332C

- History of Flight:
On July 30, 2026, at about 2044 local time, a privately-registered Cessna 180 Skywagon, N2332C, sustained substantial damage when it ground looped while taxiing. The pilot and passenger were not injured.