# NTSB DEN01LA029: Cessna 172E, N96024, Salt Lake City, UT, December 16, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 16, 2000, 12:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place: Salt Lake City, UT
- Location: 40.7608° N, 111.8910° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Salt Lake City, UT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7608&lon=-111.8910&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 26, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 50811
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA029
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50811/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA029

## Probable cause

the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.  A factor was a total power loss due to a connecting rod failure.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing
  - terrain condition - rock(s)/boulder(s)
  - terrain condition - none suitable (cause)

## Analysis

During cruise flight, the engine lost all power due to a connecting rod failure and the flight instructor attempted to land the aircraft on a road.  Due to a vehicle on the road, the flight instructor steered the aircraft into a field during landing roll and the aircraft struck some rocks causing damage to the main landing gear mounting structure.  The reason for the connecting rod failure could not be determined due to secondary damage.

## Factual narrative

On December 16, 2000, at 1210 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172E, N96024, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing on Antelope Island, in Great Salt Lake, near Salt Lake City, Utah.  The certified flight instructor and passenger were not injured.  The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed.  The flight departed Bountiful, Utah, at 1100.

According to the flight instructor, during cruise flight, the aircraft lost all engine power and the he attempted a landing on a road.  Due to a vehicle on the road, the pilot said he steered the aircraft into a field, and the aircraft struck some rocks after it departed the road.

The Federal Aviation administration inspector who went to the scene found a hole in the engine casing and that the main landing gear mounting structure had substantial damage.  The cause for the hole in the casing was a connecting rod failure.  The reason for the rod failure could not be determined due to secondary damage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N96024](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N96024), registered now, S/N R172-0148 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172E
- Registry model: [Cessna R172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172e) (registry code 2072413) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172-0148
- Airframe hours: 6587
- Engines: Continental IO-360D 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Daniel L. Autry
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, December 8, 1999, 177 hours before
- Departed: BTF, BOUNTIFUL, UT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 550 total, 175 in this make and model, 510 as pilot in command, 230 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SLC, 15 nm away

## 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 20001216028789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001216028789A), Dec 16, 2000: Cessna R172E, Syracuse, UT, No damage. (-23) A/c experienced power loss and eventual failure. Pilot established glide for an emergency landing on a paved road on antelope island. After establishing…

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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