# Accident 20260116000249A: Cessna 172K, Amery, WI, January 16, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 16, 2026, 11:30 local time
- Place: Amery, WI
- Airport: Amery Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.2813° N, 92.3755° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2813&lon=-92.3755&mi=10
- Aircraft: N79118, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N79118) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172K (registry code 2072430, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 27,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA094) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260116000249A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A POST-ENGINE OVERHAUL TEST FLIGHT. HE FLEW TWO LAPS AROUND THE AIRPORT AND WAS ON HIS FINAL LAP  WHEN THE AIRCRAFT VIOLENTLY VIBRATED AND LOST ENGINE POWER. DECIDING HE MAY NOT REACH THE RUNWAY, HE OPTED TO LAND IN THE ADJACENT FIELD. ON TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED APPROXIMATELY 150 ON THE SNOW, WHEN THE NOSE WHEEL SANK INTO THE PACKED SNOW AND BROKE OFF FROM THE STRUT. THE NOSE DIPPED AND THE RIGHT WINGTIP CONTACTED THE GROUND AND DETACHED AS THE AIRCRAFT PIROUETTED AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.

## 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 CEN26LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA094), Jan 16, 2026: Cessna 172K (N79118), Amery, WI, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

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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