What happened
On March 20, 2026, at approximately 1415 central daylight time, a Cessna 172P, registration N65614, was performing a Part 91 aerial observation flight near Denton, Texas. During the initial climb at approximately 200 feet above ground level, the pilot experienced a partial loss of engine power accompanied by a drop in engine RPM.
The pilot attempted to recover power by applying carburetor heat and moving the mixture lever to the full forward position, but the power loss continued. The pilot notified the Air Traffic tower controller that the engine had been lost. While the sensor operator identified a field to the right as a potential landing site, the pilot elected to attempt a landing straight ahead on the remaining portion of the runway.
To prepare for landing, the pilot reduced the throttle to idle, initiated a forward slip, and lowered the flaps while performing gentle S-turns. Upon realizing there was insufficient runway remaining, the pilot applied full throttle and pitched the aircraft up to climb, retracting the flaps in an effort to clear nearby trees. The pilot noted a possible small jolt of power during this maneuver. The aircraft subsequently descended through the trees and came to rest in an upright position.
The accident resulted in one serious injury to the sensor operator and one minor injury to the pilot. There were zero fatalities.