# NTSB investigations: Cessna 172M: Off-field or emergency landing

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 CEN25LA355](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA355.md): Cessna 172M · Lubbock, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 27, 2025 · N92356 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s mismanagement of available fuel, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB CEN24LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA168.md): Cessna 172M · Clearbrook, MN · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 29, 2024 · N12805 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s delayed use of carburetor heat which resulted in the loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.
- [NTSB ERA24LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA135.md): Cessna 172 · Homestead, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Mar 9, 2024 · N5171H · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power due to carburetor ice as a result of the pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat in conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor ice.
- [NTSB ERA22LA411](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA411.md): Cessna 172 · Clearfield, PA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 3, 2022 · N9619H · Substantial damage
  > A sudden partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, which resulted in an off-airport landing.
- [NTSB CEN22LA309](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA309.md): Cessna 172M · Friend, NE · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 8, 2022 · N5177H · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power due to a stuck valve.
- [NTSB ERA22LA298](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA298.md): Cessna 172 · Akron, OH · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 4, 2022 · N12115 · Substantial damage
  > The pilots’ improper preflight fuel planning and in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB ERA22LA309](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA309.md): Cessna 172 · Lancaster, OH · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 22, 2022 · N9556H · Substantial damage
  > A partial loss of engine power due to the formation of carburetor ice.
- [NTSB CEN20CA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA181.md): Cessna 172 · Colchester, IL · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · May 15, 2020 · N92036 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate preflight of the fuel quantity which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation during cruise flight.
- [NTSB CEN20LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA042.md): Cessna 172 · Rush City, MN · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 21, 2019 · N9646Q · Substantial damage
  > The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation because the student pilot failed to reposition the fuel mixture control to full rich before takeoff.
- [NTSB CEN19LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA070.md): Cessna 172 · Abilene, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 21, 2018 · N254RA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to see and avoid a cell tower wire during a pipeline patrol flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's distraction due to writing down observations about the pipeline while flying.
- [NTSB ERA17LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA242.md): Cessna 172 · Key Biscayne, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 14, 2017 · N80457 · Substantial damage
  > The nearly complete blockage of the right fuel tank strainer with organic material, which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent total loss of engine power. Contributing to the fuel starvation was the pilot receiving instruction’s and the flight…
- [NTSB ERA17LA203](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA203.md): Cessna 172 · Suffolk, NY · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 12, 2017 · N13306 · Substantial damage
  > A loss of preload to the crankshaft gear attachment bolt due to improper installation, which resulted in the fatigue failure of the crankshaft gear alignment dowel and led to the rotation of the crankshaft gear and a subsequent total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB CEN16LA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA246.md): Cessna 172 · Wonder Lake, IL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 5, 2016 · N6576H · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's inadequate supervision and lack of remedial action due to his diverted attention to a radio call, which resulted in the airplane landing short of the runway.
- [NTSB WPR15LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA146.md): Cessna 172M · Hilo, HI · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 14, 2015 · N12842 · Substantial damage
  > Water contamination in the fuel system due to the flight instructor’s and pilot receiving instruction’s failure to drain all the water from the system during the preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine power.
- [NTSB ERA14LA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA122.md): Cessna 172M · Pinson, TN · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 14, 2014 · N194EX · Substantial damage
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s decision to continue flight into deteriorating weather conditions at night and his failure to divert in a timely manner, which resulted in an off-airport precautionary landing and subsequent substantial damage to the airplane.
- [NTSB WPR14LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA023.md): Cessna 172 - M · Hardin, MT · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 21, 2013 · N80257 · Substantial damage
  > A rough-running engine and partial loss of power, which resulted from the pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat appropriately while operating in an area conducive to carburetor icing.
- [NTSB WPR13FA294](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA294.md): Cessna 172 · Birdseye, UT · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 27, 2013 · N4459R · Substantial damage
  > ***This report was modified on August 18, 2015. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.*** The operator's improper installation of a supplemental electrical power supply, which caused a short circuit due to inadequate vibration…
- [NTSB CEN13CA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA272.md): Cessna 172M · Thief River Falls, MN · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 9, 2013 · N1820V · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the power line while on approach to landing.
- [NTSB CEN13LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA104.md): Cessna 172M · Arcola, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 7, 2012 · N172BJ · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
- [NTSB ERA12CA568](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA568.md): Cessna 172M · Quitman, MS · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 19, 2012 · N172HA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB ERA12CA546](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA546.md): Cessna 172M · Bardstown, KY · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 30, 2012 · N21214 · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's decision to turn the fuel selector to the off position and his delayed remedial actions to restart the engine, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent forced landing.
- [NTSB WPR11CA449](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA449.md): Cessna 172M · Wendover, UT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 14, 2011 · N9197H · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose over.
- [NTSB ERA09LA379](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA379.md): Cessna 172M · Princeton, NJ · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 4, 2009 · N64178 · Substantial damage
  > The partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB WPR09CA305](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA305.md): Cessna 172M · McCall, ID · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 22, 2009 · N12463 · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power during descent due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to determine the fuel quantity prior to departure.
- [NTSB ERA09LA310](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA310.md): Cessna 172M · Sarasota, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 30, 2009 · N12151 · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB ERA09LA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA272.md): Cessna 172 · Chesterfield, SC · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 27, 2009 · N9884Q · Substantial damage
  > The partial loss of engine power due to a broken exhaust valve. Contributing to the accident was the operator's exceedance of the engine manufacturer's recommended time before overhaul.
- [NTSB LAX08LA240](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA240.md): Cessna 172M · Bountiful, UT · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 22, 2008 · N7672 · Substantial damage
  > A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB SEA08LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA155.md): Cessna 172M · Oakland, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 30, 2008 · N61736 · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power due to oil starvation. The oil starvation event was due to the failure of maintenance personnel to tighten the mounting bolts for the newly installed vacuum pump.

## 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 ('2072418')
    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" = '440' 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/440/sequence?model=2072418

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