Cessna 172L N7864G

Summary

On 28 February 2026 at about 18:30 local time, a Cessna 172L registered N7864G was involved in an accident near Bennettsville, South Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 February 2026 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Bennettsville, South Carolina, United States

Coordinates

34.7356, -79.6706

Aircraft

Cessna 172L

Registration

N7864G

Category

Airplane

Year built

1970

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA26LA132

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees on takeoff from a rural road.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was attempting to land on a private grass runway but due to sun glare, inadvertently landed in an adjacent field. The pilot then taxied to a nearby paved road and attempted to take off with the intent to land at the private grass runway. During the takeoff roll, the airplane collided with trees resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.