N1261U - 1976 Cessna 172M Aircraft Registration

C172

1976 CESSNA 172M

Aircraft Description

N1261U is a 1976 Cessna 172M, a single-engine four-cycle piston aircraft registered to Vlftec INC in Ames, IA. This aircraft holds a standard airworthiness certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration on March 22, 1976. The registration certificate was issued on October 6, 1981. The registration is set to expire on October 31, 2028. Powered by a Lycoming 0-320 SERIES engine producing 180 horsepower, N1261U is. The aircraft's Mode S transponder code is A06C8A (hex), used for ADS-B identification and flight tracking. The FAA registry record for N1261U was last updated on June 16, 2023. AviatorDB monitors aircraft positions through ADS-B surveillance data and updates records as new position data is received.

The Cessna 172 Skyhawk stands as the most successful aircraft in general aviation history and holds the record as the longest-produced aircraft design ever manufactured. First flown in June 1955, it is a high-wing, single-engine monoplane that seats four occupants and features tricycle landing gear for enhanced stability. With a wingspan of 36 feet and a maximum range of 515 nautical miles, the aircraft has been produced continuously since 1956 with only brief interruptions. Manufactured originally by Cessna Aircraft Company, now part of Textron Aviation, total production exceeds 44,000 units. AviatorDB tracks 80,556 Cessna aircraft currently registered in the FAA database. The ICAO type designator for this aircraft model is C172.

AviatorDB has found no NTSB accident or incident reports involving N1261U. AviatorDB cross-references all FAA registration data with NTSB accident and incident reports, providing a comprehensive safety overview for every registered aircraft in the United States.

Model Year
1976
Manufacturer
CESSNA
Model
172M
Type Aircraft
Fixed Wing Single Engine
ICAO Type Code
C172172 Skyhawk
Cruise Speed
108 mph
Weight Class
Up to 12,500 lbs
Airworthiness Date
March 22, 1976
Classification
Standard Normal Category
Type Registration
Corporation
Status
Valid Registration
Cert Issue Date
October 6, 1981

Registered Owner

Name
VLFTEC INC
Address
3020 WHITE OAK DR
City
AMES
State / Zip Code
Iowa50014-8216
Country
United States

Powerplant & Avionics

Engine Type
4-cycle
Number of Engines
1
Engine Manufacturer
LYCOMING
Engine Model
0-320 SERIES
Horsepower
180 HP
Mode S Code (Oct)
50066212
Mode S Code (Hex)
A06C8A

Additional Details

Registration
N1261U
Serial Number
17266956
Number of Engines
1
Number of Seats
4
Expiration Date
October 31, 2028
Last Action Date
June 16, 2023
Last Update Date
January 19, 2026
Unique ID
00220630

Last Known Position

Date
June 8, 2026 (UTC 02:51:58)
Airport
Latitude
41.985091
Longitude
-93.608689

Data Source

Data provided by the US Federal Aviation Administration. View on FAA.gov

Last updated: 2026-06-15 01:32:20 UTC