# NTSB investigations: Cessna 172N: Loss of engine power (partial) NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports. ## Latest cases - [NTSB ERA26LA342](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA342.md): Cessna 172N · Panama City, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report · Sep 7, 2026 · N734NM · Substantial damage > On September 7, 2026, about 1059 central daylight time, a Cessna 172N airplane, N734NM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Panama City, Florida. The student pilot and flight instructor were not injured. The airplane was… - [NTSB ERA26LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA046.md): Cessna 172 · Palm Bay, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report · Nov 18, 2025 · N6124D · Substantial damage > On November 17, 2025, about 1900 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172N, N6124D, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Palm Bay, Florida. The private pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of… - [NTSB CEN25LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA168.md): Cessna 172N · Longmont, CO · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 4, 2025 · N75775 · Substantial damage > The disconnected throttle control that resulted in a loss of engine power due to improper maintenance. - [NTSB ERA24LA271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA271.md): Cessna 172 · Hernando, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 21, 2024 · N734XT · Substantial damage > The improper installation of a cylinder rocker stud by maintenance personnel, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing. - [NTSB ERA22LA369](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA369.md): Cessna 172 · Jamestown, NY · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 12, 2022 · N4751F · Substantial damage > A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be definitively determined. - [NTSB WPR21LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA069.md): Cessna 172 · San Diego, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 13, 2020 · N5098E · Substantial damage > A partial loss of engine power due to the fatigue fracture of the No. 3 exhaust valve rocker arm stud. - [NTSB WPR20LA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA212.md): Cessna 172 · Lake Tahoe, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 7, 2020 · N6328D · Destroyed > The partial loss of engine power due to carbon buildup in the No. 4 cylinder resulting from the pilot’s inadequate mixture-leaning procedures. - [NTSB WPR20LA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA136.md): Cessna 172 · Fresno, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 2, 2020 · N734NW · Substantial damage > The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence. - [NTSB ANC18LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18LA011.md): Cessna 172 · Oloh, MS · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 25, 2017 · N739KW · Substantial damage > A partial loss of engine power due to the failure of the No. 3 valve key (exhaust). - [NTSB ERA16LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA231.md): Cessna 172 · Hollywood, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 26, 2016 · N734UF · Substantial damage > A partial loss of engine power during the initial climb for undetermined reasons. - [NTSB WPR15CA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA091.md): Cessna 172N · Makaha, HI · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 26, 2015 · N422BP · Substantial damage > A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane was ditched and not recovered. - [NTSB WPR15LA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA086.md): Cessna 172N · Ualapue, HI · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 17, 2015 · N5660E · Substantial damage > A partial loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane was not recovered. - [NTSB CEN14FA435](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA435.md): Cessna 172N · Natchitoches, LA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 17, 2014 · N734YW · Substantial damage > The partial loss of engine power due to the exhaust valve rocker retaining stud backing out of the cylinder head, which resulted in the exhaust valve being stuck in the closed position. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to configure the… - [NTSB ERA14CA375](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA375.md): Cessna 172N · Valkaria, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 6, 2014 · N9400E · Substantial damage > The pilot's misjudgment of speed and distance on final approach during a precautionary landing, resulting in a touchdown off the departure end of the runway and collision with terrain. A factor in the accident was a partial loss of engine power for reasons… - [NTSB CEN14LA276](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA276.md): Cessna 172N · Padre Island, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 3, 2014 · N734BY · Substantial damage > The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. - [NTSB ERA13FA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13FA217.md): Cessna 172N · Dade City, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 27, 2013 · N5944J · Substantial damage > The in-flight loosening of the No. 3 cylinder exhaust valve rocker arm stud, which resulted in a complete loss of engine power. - [NTSB WPR12LA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA306.md): Cessna 172N · Rockford, ID · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 16, 2012 · N5204K · Substantial damage > A partial loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the failure of the No. 3 cylinder exhaust valve for reasons that could not be determined due to the damage to the valve head and the missing valve stem. Contributing to the accident was the flight… - [NTSB ERA12LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA191.md): Cessna 172N · Flat Rock, VA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 17, 2012 · N4737D · Substantial damage > The partial loss of engine power due to the failure of the exhaust valve spring seat for reasons that could not be determined. - [NTSB ERA12LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA058.md): Cessna 172N · Pompano Beach, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 1, 2011 · N739JN · Substantial damage > The separation of the throttle cable from its fitting, which resulted in an inability to control engine power. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate maintenance by the owner. - [NTSB ERA11LA388](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA388.md): Cessna 172N · Orange Beach, AL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 4, 2011 · N109DP · Substantial damage > The operation of the airplane using unapproved fuels, which resulted in abnormal combustion and subsequent damage to the No. 3 cylinder. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate 100-hour inspection because the mechanic failed to note the lack of… - [NTSB ERA10LA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA275.md): Cessna 172N · Plattekill, NY · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 21, 2010 · N739RK · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to place the fuel selector valve in the appropriate position for takeoff resulting in a partial loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's attempted takeoff at a higher than allowed gross weight. - [NTSB WPR09LA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA245.md): Cessna 172N · Desert Center, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 16, 2009 · N738LF · Substantial damage > A partial loss of engine power due to low compression from an obstructed intake valve. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to shut down the engine while in flight. - [NTSB CEN09CA253](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA253.md): Cessna 172N · Roanoke, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 8, 2009 · N172SV · Substantial damage > The partial loss of engine power due to a failure of the throttle control rod-end to carburetor arm hardware. A contributing factor was the pilot's decision to fly the airplane without a current annual inspection. ## The whole list in SQL Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS: ```sql SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('2072434') AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND s.aircrafts_position = x.position AND s."tier2Number" = '342' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent"))) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC ``` This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence?model=2072434 --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.