# NTSB ANC19LA008: Cessna 172, N7207A, Whittier, AK, November 27, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 27, 2018, 12:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Whittier, AK - Coordinates: 59.878887, -147.747772 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.8789&lon=-147.7478&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 98700 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC19LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98700/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98700 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19LA008 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome ## Analysis According to the student pilot, on a previous flight the same day, while on final approach to the off-airport landing site, the engine lost all power. He applied carburetor heat and was able to restart the engine and landed uneventfully. Following the event, the pilot sumped the fuel system and removed 7 vials of water. He then taxied for departure and completed an engine run-up. The engine briefly ran roughly and then began to smooth out with no anomalies noted. Just after departure, about 30 ft above ground level, the engine lost all power. The airplane impacted trees off the departure end of the airstrip and was destroyed by postcrash fire. Due to the remote location of the accident site, the airplane was not recovered or examined after the accident; therefore, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On November 27, 2018, about 1230 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N7207A, was destroyed during a forced landing and postcrash fire following a total loss of engine power shortly after departure from an off-airport landing site on Montague Island about 60 miles east of Seward, Alaska. The student pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 visual flight rules (VFR) flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, on a previous flight the same day, while on final approach to the off-airport landing site on Montague Island the engine lost all power. He applied carburetor heat and was able to restart the engine and landed uneventfully. Following the event, the pilot sumped the fuel system and removed 7 vials of water. He then taxied for departure and completed a run-up. The engine continued to run rough for a short period of time, then began to smooth out with no anomalies noted. Just after departure from the off-airport landing site, at about 30 ft above ground level, the engine lost all power. The airplane impacted Alder trees off the departure end of the airstrip and was destroyed by postcrash fire. The aircraft was equipped with a Continental Motors O-300 series engine. Due to the remote location of the accident site, the airplane was not recovered or examined after the accident. The closet weather reporting facility is Seward Airport (PAWD), Seward, Alaska, about 60 miles west of the accident site. At 1353, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) from PAWD was reporting in part: wind, calm; sky condition, broken clouds at 3,800 ft, broken clouds at 4,900 ft, overcast clouds at 6,000 ft; visibility, 10 statute miles; temperature, 45° F; dewpoint, 41° F; altimeter, 29.06 inHg. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7207A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7207A-2021-07-31), registration cancelled 2021-07-31, S/N 29307, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 29307 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 5080 - Engines: Continental O-300 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 11, 2018 - Departed: Whittier, AK - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,800 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.05 inHg - Observed at: PAWD ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20181127017719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181127017719A), Nov 27, 2018: Cessna 172, Seward, AK, Destroyed. Accident occurred at small airstrip on montague island, approx. 50 NM east of Seward, AK. Aircraft had engine problems on landing on previous flight when… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 24, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98700. 517 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 426 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477101&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477110&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- 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.