# Incident 20260418003749I: Textron Aviation Inc 172S, Shafter, CA, April 18, 2026

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 18, 2026, 11:37 local time
- Place: Shafter, CA
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operator: 8S4S
- Location: 35.5005° N, 119.2718° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Shafter, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5005&lon=-119.2718&mi=10
- Aircraft: N237TH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N237TH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Textron 172S (registry code 2072449, https://openairdocs.org/model/textron-172s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (registry code 41597, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TEXTRON AVIATION INC 172S
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 877 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260418003749I

## Narrative

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

ON APRIL 18, 2026, AT APPROXIMATELY 11:37 AM LOCAL TIME, DURING THE SECOND INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT OF THE DAY, A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL CREW (FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT) OPERATING A CESSNA 172 EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WHILE CONDUCTING TRAINING OPERATIONS. DURING A DESCENT FROM 2,000 TO 1,300 FEET AT APPROXIMATELY 1,800 RPM, A LOUD “POP” WAS HEARD, FOLLOWED BY AN IMMEDIATE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE CREW EXECUTED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND MADE MULTIPLE UNSUCCESSFUL RESTART ATTEMPTS BEFORE CONDUCTING A FORCED OFF-AIRPORT LANDING IN A FIELD APPROXIMATELY 5 NM WEST OF SHAFTER AIRPORT (MINTER FIELD). THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT, AND NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE WERE REPORTED. A PRELIMINARY MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, INCLUDING A COMPRESSION CHECK, REVEALED THAT THREE OF THE FOUR CYLINDERS HAD ZERO COMPRESSION, DESPITE THE ENGINE HAVING ONLY 484.2 HOURS SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL (TSMOH). THE ENGINE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED IN THE FIELD. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE COMPRESSION LOSS REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE OPERATOR’S MAINTENANCE TEAM.

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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