What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On February 21, 2026, a Cessna 177, with a pilot and one passenger onboard, departed payson airport on a VFR cross-country flight. The preflight inspection, engine start, taxi, and pretakeoff checks were reported as normal, with all engine indications within normal limits.
Approximately 10–15 minutes after departure, the engine experienced a sudden loss of power. The engine initially produced partial power before losing all power. The pilot reported hearing intermittent backfiring sounds. The pilot initiated emergency engine-out procedures; however, no action restored engine power. The only abnormal engine indication observed was the number 3 cylinder temperature, which was approximately 460°f.
With insufficient altitude to reach an airport and limited suitable landing areas available, the pilot selected a relatively flat area with fewer trees. The pilot configured the aircraft with full flaps, maintained minimum controllable airspeed above stall, and executed an off-airport landing.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The pilot and passenger exited the aircraft and reported minor injuries.
Engine tear down will be scheduled asap. This narative will be updated then with any additional technical. Causes.
As the FAA filed it
ON FEBRUARY 21, 2026, A CESSNA 177, WITH A PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER ONBOARD, DEPARTED PAYSON AIRPORT ON A VFR CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, ENGINE START, TAXI, AND PRETAKEOFF CHECKS WERE REPORTED AS NORMAL, WITH ALL ENGINE INDICATIONS WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
APPROXIMATELY 10–15 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. THE ENGINE INITIALLY PRODUCED PARTIAL POWER BEFORE LOSING ALL POWER. THE PILOT REPORTED HEARING INTERMITTENT BACKFIRING SOUNDS. THE PILOT INITIATED EMERGENCY ENGINE-OUT PROCEDURES; HOWEVER, NO ACTION RESTORED ENGINE POWER. THE ONLY ABNORMAL ENGINE INDICATION OBSERVED WAS THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER TEMPERATURE, WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY 460°F.
WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH AN AIRPORT AND LIMITED SUITABLE LANDING AREAS AVAILABLE, THE PILOT SELECTED A RELATIVELY FLAT AREA WITH FEWER TREES. THE PILOT CONFIGURED THE AIRCRAFT WITH FULL FLAPS, MAINTAINED MINIMUM CONTROLLABLE AIRSPEED ABOVE STALL, AND EXECUTED AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING.
UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND REPORTED MINOR INJURIES.
ENGINE TEAR DOWN WILL BE SCHEDULED ASAP. THIS NARATIVE WILL BE UPDATED THEN WITH ANY ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL. CAUSES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N12984 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.