# NTSB investigations: Cessna 172N: 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 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 ANC26LA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA001.md): Cessna 172N · Petersburg, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report · Oct 7, 2025 · N80628 · Substantial damage
  > On October 7, 2025, at 1456 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N80628, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Petersburg, Alaska. The student pilot and flight instructor were not injured. The airplane was operated as a…
- [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 CEN24LA362](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA362.md): Cessna 172N · Arboles, CO · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 17, 2024 · N739JU · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power due to carburetor ice.
- [NTSB ERA24LA361](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA361.md): Cessna 172 · Lynchburg, VA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 29, 2024 · N734SY · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
- [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 ERA22LA392](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA392.md): Cessna 172N · Gates Mills, OH · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 30, 2022 · N204BE · Substantial damage
  > The instructor pilot’s decision to perform an inflight magneto check with no suitable area to land. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to correctly perform a magneto check that resulted in a total loss of engine power.
- [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 ERA21LA261](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA261.md): Cessna 172 · Jupiter, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 18, 2021 · N2797E · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor’s failure to obtain the proper touchdown point during a forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the improper service and subsequent inadequate inspection of the single-drive, dual magneto, which resulted in a total loss of…
- [NTSB ERA21LA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA144.md): Cessna 172 · Boynton Beach, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Feb 26, 2021 · N5631E · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB CEN20LA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA014.md): Cessna 172 · Swea City, IA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 25, 2019 · N1443E · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to replace the oil filler cap during his preflight inspection, which resulted in oil starvation and a subsequent total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB WPR19LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA092.md): Cessna 172 · Melba, ID · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Mar 1, 2019 · N6486J · Substantial damage
  > The total loss of engine power due to a separated carburetor idle mixture adjustment screw and spring assembly for reasons that could not be determined.
- [NTSB ERA19LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA079.md): Cessna 172 · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 24, 2018 · N3015E · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to the fatigue fracture of the No. 2 exhaust rocker arm stud.
- [NTSB ERA18TA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18TA059.md): Cessna 172 · Union Mills, NC · Accident · Minor injuries · Final report · Dec 24, 2017 · N91SP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat in weather conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and a subsequent forced landing.
- [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 ERA16LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA009.md): Cessna 172N · Miami Beach, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 11, 2015 · N733VB · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane was not recovered from the ocean after the ditching.
- [NTSB WPR13LA402](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA402.md): Cessna 172N · Long Beach, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 9, 2013 · N42EP · Substantial damage
  > The total loss of engine power during initial climb due to debris within the carburetor mixture metering sleeve.
- [NTSB WPR13LA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA209.md): Cessna 172N · Henderson, NV · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 28, 2013 · N3483E · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, including operating in excess of the maximum certified gross weight and center of gravity limits at a high density altitude, which resulted in the airplane’s inability to maintain a positive rate of climb after…
- [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 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 CEN11LA413](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA413.md): Cessna 172N · Bedford Park, IL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 18, 2011 · N172NT · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power due to a fractured push rod precipitated by a stuck exhaust valve.
- [NTSB ERA10CA392](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA392.md): Cessna 172N · Elk Creek, VA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 31, 2010 · N172FL · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an off-airport landing.
- [NTSB ERA10LA377](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA377.md): Cessna 172N · Waynesboro, VA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 24, 2010 · N3480E · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to follow the short-field takeoff procedures published in the Pilot's Operating Handbook.
- [NTSB CEN10CA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA178.md): Cessna 172N · Ankeny, IA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 31, 2010 · N883AV · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate in-flight fuel monitoring.
- [NTSB CEN10LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA123.md): Cessna 172N · Genoa City, WI · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 14, 2010 · N24CV · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to the failure of the bolts that held in place the connecting rods to the engine's No. 3 and No. 4 cylinders as a result of the engine overhaul facility's improper installation of the bolts during a recent overhaul.
- [NTSB ERA09LA517](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA517.md): Cessna 172N · Hillsville, VA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 13, 2009 · N734TV · Substantial damage
  > The total loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.
- [NTSB ERA09LA399](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA399.md): Cessna 172N · Rochester, MA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 12, 2009 · N4773G · Substantial damage
  > An engine vibration as reported by the pilot, for undetermined reasons.
- [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 SEA08LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA191.md): Cessna 172N · Burbank, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 30, 2008 · N172ST · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper preflight and in-flight planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's loss of situational awareness while conducting the normal and emergency checklists during his turn from base to final…
- [NTSB LAX08LA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA206.md): Cessna 172N · El Cajon, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 26, 2008 · N6360D · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power due to carburetor ice resulting from the flight instructor's failure to use the carburetor heat when simulating an engine failure. Contributing to the accident were the carburetor icing weather condition and the lack of suitable…

## 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" = '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=2072434

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