# Incident 20260420004819I: Cessna 172M, Simpsonville, KY, April 20, 2026

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 20, 2026, 16:14 local time
- Place: Simpsonville, KY
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.2164° N, 85.3488° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Simpsonville, KY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2164&lon=-85.3488&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5256H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5256H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,036 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260420004819I

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING USED BY A STUDENT PILOT AND CFI FOR A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE OUTBOUND PORTION OF THE FLIGHT WAS COMPLETED WITHOUT INCIDENT. WHILE ENROUTE TO THE AIRPORT THEY HAD ORIGINATED FROM THEY WERE INSTRUCTED TO DESCEND AND MAINTAIN 2500 FEET MSL. THE DESCENT CHECKLIST WAS COMPLETED AND THEY INITIATED AND COMPLETED THE DESCENT AS INSTRUCTED. ABOUT 15 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT, SUDDEN ENGINE ROUGHNESS WITH SUBSTANTIAL LOSS OF RPM WAS ENCOUNTERED. THEY OBSERVED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURES FOR CYLINDERS 1 AND 4 HAD DROPPED RAPIDLY. THEY BEGAN TO CIRCLE WHILE EXECUTING THE ENGINE POWER LOSS IN-FLIGHT CHECKLIST. THERE WAS NO IMPROVEMENT IN ENGINE PERFORMANCE. THEY COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE.

THE CFI DECIDED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING. HE SELECTED A SUITABLE FIELD FOR LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED SAFELY AND THE CFI SECURED THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT OR PROPERTY.

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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