N172BX

On December 26, 2025, about 1501 central standard time, a Cessna 172G airplane, N172BX, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Taylor, Texas. The pilot and the passenger sustained no injury. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The private pilot, who is the airplane owner, reported the purpose of the local area flight was to practice flight maneuvers. The airplane departed from runway 17 at the Taylor Municipal Airport (T74), Taylor, Texas, about 1422. The airplane flew to the east of T74, practiced the various flight maneuvers, and returned to T74.

The airplane entered the traffic pattern at T74 for a touch and go landing to runway 17. During the takeoff from runway 17, with full power applied at about 300 ft agl, the engine sustained a total loss of power. Due to the limited forced landing options available, the pilot decided to land the airplane to a flat grass field near the end of the runway. The airplane impacted the grass field, bounced, and continued past the grass field. The airplane came to rest upright in a large northwest to southeast oriented ditch, located about 100 ft to the southwest of the departure end of runway 17. The ditch, which was filled with fresh water, was about 4-5 ft deep. The pilot and the passenger were able to egress from the airplane without further incident.

At the time of the accident, the pilot estimated that each wing fuel tank was about a quarter full of fuel. During the approach, landing, and subsequent takeoff from runway 17, the pilot reported that he did not utilize the carburetor heat system. While the airplane was previously modified via a FAA-approved supplemental type certificate to use unleaded automotive gasoline, the pilot reported the airplane was operating with 100 low lead fuel at the time of the accident.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The airplane was recovered from the ditch, and it was transported to a secure location for future examination.

The airplane, which was manufactured in 1966, was equipped with a Continental Motors O-300-D reciprocating engine and a McCauley Propeller 1C172/EM7653 two-blade fixed pitch aluminum propeller.