# Accident 20210716010789A: Cessna 172, Skwentna, AK, July 16, 2021 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 16, 2021, 12:30 local time - Place: Skwentna, AK - Airport: Off Airport Takeoff - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 61.9190° N, 150.9915° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.9190&lon=-150.9915&mi=10 - Aircraft: N7137T, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7137T) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 172 (registry code 2072402, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 1 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC21LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA061) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210716010789A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON 16 JULY 2021 AT ABOUT 1230 AKDT, THE PILOT OF N7137T, A CESSNA 172 INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING TAKEOFF FROM GRAVEL BAR ON MILE 8 OR 9 OF THE YENTNA RIVER IN THE VICINITY OF SKWENTNA, ALASKA. THE PILOT REPORT IN THE INITIAL REPORT TO FLIGHT SERVICE INDICATED THERE WAS A REDUCTION OF POWER RESULTING IN A REJECTED TAKEOFF AND THE AIRPLANE HITTING A BUMP ON THE SAND BAR. THE AIRCRAFT PROPELLER AND WING HIT THE GROUND DAMAGING BOTH. THE METAR AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT FROM TALKEETNA AIRPORT INDICATED WINDS 310 AT 3 KNOTS AND 10 MILES VISIBILITY. VISUAL INSPECTION AFTER THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRANSPORTED OFF THE ACCIDENT SITE INDICATED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING AND POTENTIALLY THE SPAR. THE LEFT WING (WET WING) HAD INDICATIONS OF A SMALL FUEL LEAK APPARENTLY FROM THE DAMAGE. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTOR WHO WENT ON-SITE STATED THAT WHEN HE ARRIVED TO REMOVE THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE REMOTE LOCATION, THE AIRCRAFT THE FUEL TANK WAS DRIPPING FUEL. THE PROPELLER, AND LANDING GEAR DID NOT APPEAR TO SUSTAIN DAMAGE FROM THE ACCIDENT. DURING ENGINE START AND RUN-UP, THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN SOMEWHAT ROUGH DURING THE RUNUP USING FUEL FROM THE RIGHT FUEL TANK, BUT QUIT DUE TO APPARENT FUEL EXHAUSTION WHEN SWITCHED TO THE LEFT TANK. THE OIL LEVEL WAS 6.5 QUARTS AS INDICATED. THE COMPRESSION WAS CHECKED BY THE NTSB CONTRACTED MECHANIC AND ONE CYLINDER THAT THE MECHANIC STATED HAD VISUAL INDICATIONS OF OPERATING EXTREMELY HOT HAD 0/80 COMPRESSION AND THE ADJACENT CYLINDER HAD 20/80 COMPRESSION. THE PILOT REFUSED TO PROVIDE A STATEMENT OF THE ACCIDENT. ## 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 ANC21LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA061), Jul 16, 2021: Cessna 172 (N7137T), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to detonation/preignition damage to the No. 2 cylinder. The reason for the detonation/preignition damage could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Other reports on N7137T (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20120525011179I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120525011179I), May 25, 2012: Cessna 172 (N7137T), Dillingham, AK, Minor damage. On the evening of may 25 pilot went for a pleasure flight with 1 passenger. Opened a flight plan with Dillingham flight service. While flying pilot decided to… - [Incident 19960327005289I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960327005289I), Mar 27, 1996: Cessna 172 (N7137T), Mcgrath, AK, Minor damage. Narrative: this investigation was downgraded from an accident to an incident by george kobelnyk of NTSB. The pilot stated that on a shallow climb out from… - [Accident 19941225044029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941225044029A), Dec 25, 1994: Cessna 172 (N7137T), Unalakleet, AK, Substantial damage. Struck snowbank on taxi for takeoff. Nosed down. 25KNOT crosswind blew plane into large crate. Crosswind excessive. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.