# Accident 19970805021189A: Cessna 172M, Langley, WA, August 5, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 5, 1997, 14:00 local time
- Place: Langley, WA
- Airport: Whidbey Air Park Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.0395° N, 122.4392° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0395&lon=-122.4392&mi=10
- Aircraft: N73158, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73158-2019-07-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Reported engine: LYC O320E2D
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 100 total, 56 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA97LA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA186) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970805021189A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE DURING LANDING. (.4) THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE PILOT CHECKED THE GAUGES, THE THROTTLE AND MIXTURE, THE MAGNETOS, FUEL VALVE POSITION, AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE NOTIFIED AIR TRAFFIC OF THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND DIVERTED TO A NEARBY AIRPARK. THE PILOT ENTERED THE PATTERN AND SET-UP FOR A SHORT FIELD LANDING, HOWEVER, DUE TO A TAILWIND, SLOPING TERRAIN, AND EXCESS AIRSPEED, THE AIRPLANE FLOATED A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN, HE REALIZED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH RUNWAY LEFT TO STOP, AND OPTED TO TURN OFF THE RUNWAY ONTO A STEEP UPHILL TAXIWAY. DURING THE ROLL UP THIS TAXIWAY, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK TREES AND SPUN THE AIRPLANE AROUND 180 DEGREES. DURING THE POSTCRASH INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE, THE EXHAUST VALVE FOR THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER WAS FOUND BROKEN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA97LA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA186), Aug 5, 1997: Cessna 172M (N73158), Langley, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A failed exhaust valve. Factors were tailwind and excessive airspeed during the ensuing forced landing. .

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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