# NTSB ANC26LA016: Cessna 177B, N12984, Rocky Junction, AZ, February 22, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: February 21, 2026, 17:46 local (Feb 22, 2026, 00:46 UTC)
- Place: Rocky Junction, AZ · Provided by LEO/FAA
- Coordinates: 33.53948, -110.30664
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5395&lon=-110.3066&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202488
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC26LA016
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202488/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA016

## Preliminary report

On February 21, 2026, 1746 Mountain standard time, a Cessna 177B airplane, N12984, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Rocky Junction, Arizona. The pilot and passenger sustain minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91personal flight. The pilot reported that during departure at about 6,500ft msl (means sea level) the engine loss total power. The pilot observed one of the cylinder head temperatures was over 460 degrees. The pilot turned on the fuel boost pumps, changed fuel tanks but was unable to restart the engine. The pilot made a forced landing into remote hilly terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. A postaccident examination of the wreckage is pending the recovery of the aircraft.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N12984](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N12984), registered now, S/N 17702394, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177B
- Registry model: [Cessna 177B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (registry code 2073708) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17702394
- Year built: 1975
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Go Fly Az LLC
- Registered owner: Go Fly Az LLC
- Departed: PAN, Payson, AZ

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: KIWA, 70 nm away
- METAR: METAR KIWA 220350Z 35006KT 10SM CLR 15/M05 A3020

## 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 20260221001639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260221001639A), Feb 21, 2026: Cessna 177B, Rocky Junction, AZ, Destroyed. On February 21, 2026, a Cessna 177, with a pilot and one passenger onboard, departed payson airport on a VFR cross-country flight. The preflight inspection,…

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.

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