Cessna 172E N7783U

Summary

On 14 January 2026 at about 15:30 local time, a Cessna 172E registered N7783U was involved in an accident near Kingman, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 January 2026 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Kingman, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Private (PVT)

Coordinates

35.3408, -114.0377

Aircraft

Cessna 172E

Registration

N7783U

Category

Airplane

Year built

1964

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Kingman

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR26LA081

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to use a pre-takeoff checklist, which resulted in the fuel selector being in the off position, and subsequent loss of engine power during takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the airplane reported that during the takeoff roll from a private dirt airstrip, the engine suddenly lost power. As he scanned the instrument panel and engine controls, he observed the fuel selector valve lever in the OFF position. He switched the fuel selector valve to BOTH and noticed that the propeller had stopped turning. Subsequently, the airplane exited the departure end of the runway, impacted a ditch, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left lift strut, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, the pilot reported that he should have used the checklist. (Fuel was in the “OFF” position).

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.