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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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November 27, 2018 · Cessna 172 Undesignat · N7207A

Whittier, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 27, 2018
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Whittier, AK
Aircraft
Cessna 172 Undesignat (1956)
Tail Number
N7207A
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ANC19LA008

According to the student pilot, on a previous flight the same day, while on final approach to the off-airport landing site, the engine lost all power. He applied carburetor heat and was able to restart the engine and landed uneventfully. Following the event, the pilot sumped the fuel system and removed 7 vials of water. He then taxied for departure and completed an engine run-up. The engine briefly ran roughly and then began to smooth out with no anomalies noted. Just after departure, about 30 ft above ground level, the engine lost all power. The airplane impacted trees off the departure end of the airstrip and was destroyed by postcrash fire. Due to the remote location of the accident site, the airplane was not recovered or examined after the accident; therefore, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

Full Narrative

On November 27, 2018, about 1230 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N7207A, was destroyed during a forced landing and postcrash fire following a total loss of engine power shortly after departure from an off-airport landing site on Montague Island about 60 miles east of Seward, Alaska. The student pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 visual flight rules (VFR) flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, on a previous flight the same day, while on final approach to the off-airport landing site on Montague Island the engine lost all power. He applied carburetor heat and was able to restart the engine and landed uneventfully. Following the event, the pilot sumped the fuel system and removed 7 vials of water. He then taxied for departure and completed a run-up. The engine continued to run rough for a short period of time, then began to smooth out with no anomalies noted. Just after departure from the off-airport landing site, at about 30 ft above ground level, the engine lost all power. The airplane impacted Alder trees off the departure end of the airstrip and was destroyed by postcrash fire. The aircraft was equipped with a Continental Motors O-300 series engine. Due to the remote location of the accident site, the airplane was not recovered or examined after the accident. The closet weather reporting facility is Seward Airport (PAWD), Seward, Alaska, about 60 miles west of the accident site. At 1353, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) from PAWD was reporting in part: wind, calm; sky condition, broken clouds at 3,800 ft, broken clouds at 4,900 ft, overcast clouds at 6,000 ft; visibility, 10 statute miles; temperature, 45° F; dewpoint, 41° F; altimeter, 29.06 inHg.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:30 AKST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172 Undesignat
Tail NumberN7207A
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-300 SER · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 39 · Third Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3800 ft
Temperature / Dew Point45 C / 41 C
Altimeter29.05 inHg
Observation Time22:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data