20160326004439A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 172L · Mcneil Island, WA · March 26, 2016

Date: March 26, 2016 · 13:00 local
Place: Mcneil Island, WA
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N1151M
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR16LA090
Reported as: Cessna 172L
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Student
Pilot’s flight hours: 66 total66 in this make and model13 in the last 90 days

N1151MRegistration cancelled Oct 2, 2021 · Cessna 172LS/N 17259451 · Built 1970 Airframe modelCessna 172L Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Three hours into a solo x-country flight over the olympic penisula, PIC reported engine lost power and sputtered over south puget sound. Nearest suitable airfield was tacoma narrows 7 miles away. Due to glide distance, PIC landed in nearest open field which was on Mcneil Island. Aircraft touched down in a muddy area, nose gear caught and aircraft flipped over. PIC walked away from accident.

As the FAA filed it

THREE HOURS INTO A SOLO X-COUNTRY FLIGHT OVER THE OLYMPIC PENISULA, PIC REPORTED ENGINE LOST POWER AND SPUTTERED OVER SOUTH PUGET SOUND. NEAREST SUITABLE AIRFIELD WAS TACOMA NARROWS 7 MILES AWAY. DUE TO GLIDE DISTANCE, PIC LANDED IN NEAREST OPEN FIELD WHICH WAS ON MCNEIL ISLAND. AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN IN A MUDDY AREA, NOSE GEAR CAUGHT AND AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER. PIC WALKED AWAY FROM ACCIDENT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR16LA090Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMcNeil Island, WAThe student pilot's fuel mismanagement, which led to fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. Contributing to the accident was his failure to follow the appropriate engine start, before takeoff, and emergency checklists.Mar 26, 2016 · Substantial damage