# Accident 20250316003309A: Cessna 172A, Fairbanks, AK, March 16, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 16, 2025, 14:10 local time
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Airport: Fairbanks International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 64.7866° N, 147.8982° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7866&lon=-147.8982&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7274T, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7274T) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172A (registry code 2072404, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172A
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-300
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 8,367 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC25LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA025) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250316003309A

## Narrative

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

DURING CLIMB-OUT, THE AIRCRAFT’S ENGINE EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN RPM.  THE PILOT ENGAGED ENGINE CARBURATOR HEAT, HOWEVER ENGINE RPM COULD NOT BE RESTORED AND CONTINUED TO DROP.  THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE SUFFICIENT POWER TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE.  AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS INITIATED ON THE FROZEN RIVER WHERE THE NOSE WHEEL CAUGHT IN THE SOFT SNOW, RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT BECOMING INVERTED CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS.

## 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 ANC25LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA025), Mar 16, 2025: Cessna 172A (N7274T), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to initiate the flight despite identifying a malfunction in the carburetor heat system during the pre-takeoff engine run-up, which led to a partial loss of engine power during…

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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