# NTSB DEN05LA127: Cessna 172N, N9892J, Cedar City, UT, August 17, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 2005, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Cedar City, UT - Coordinates: 37.701667, -113.098335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7017&lon=-113.0983&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 62262 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62262/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA127 ## Probable cause the loss of engine power for reasons undetermined. Contributing factors include the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing, and the soft dirt. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - emergency procedure - attempted, pilot passenger - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft - terrain condition - ground - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis According to both pilots, approximately 500 feet agl, the engine lost power and the safety pilot continued flying the airplane. The safety pilot reported that he attempted to restore power, by adjusting mixture and power but nothing worked to restore power. The airplane touched down to the west of the runway, at a 45 degree angle to the paved surface, sank in the dirt, flipped upside down, and skidded to a stop on the runway. The airplane was substantially damaged. An examination revealed no anomalies that would have precluded the engine from producing power prior to the accident. An examination of the remaining systems revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On August 17, 2005, approximately 1315 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N9892J, operated by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during a forced landing at Cedar City Regional Airport (CDC), Cedar City, Utah. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The training flight was being conducted on an instrument flight rules flight plan under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and private certificated safety pilot were not injured. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident, and was en route to Provo, Utah. According to a telephone interview with both pilots, they were departing on a cross-country flight so the private pilot could build instrument hood time. According to the private pilot, he had established a positive climb rate and transferred the flight controls to the safety pilot so he could put on his hood. Approximately 500 feet agl, the engine lost power and the safety pilot continued flying the airplane. According to a report submitted by the safety pilot, he tried adjusting mixture and power but nothing worked to restore power. The airplane touched down to the west of runway 02, at a 45 degree angle to the paved runway surface. According to the private pilot, the airplane touched down in the dirt short of the runway, bounced, then touched the dirt again. When the nose wheel touched down, it sank in the dirt and the airplane flipped upside down and skidded to a stop on the runway. The nose landing gear assembly separated, the firewall was wrinkled, and both the left and right wings were wrinkled. The airplane was recovered and relocated to a hangar in Phoenix, Arizona, for further examination. The engine was examined by the NTSB IIC on October 5, 2005. No anomalies were noted that would have precluded the engine from producing power prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9892J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9892J-2007-05-08), registration cancelled 2007-05-08, S/N 17273952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273952 - Airframe hours: 8056 - Engines: Lycoming 0-320-H2AD 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pro-Air Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 1, 2005, 4 hours before - Departed: CDC, Cedar City, UT - Destination: PVU, PROVO, UT - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KCDC, Cedar City, runway 2, 8,653 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 128 total, 97 in this make and model, 84 as pilot in command, 128 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 182 total, 143 in this make and model, 139 as pilot in command, 121 in the last 90 days, 56 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: CDC, 1 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 20050817018389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050817018389A), Aug 17, 2005: Cessna 172N, Cedar City, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) On 08/17/05 at 1315 a CE-172-N, N9892J, s/n 17273952, crashed in Cedar City, UT (cdc) while attempting to make an emergency landing, after take-off, back… ## Other investigations on N9892J (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN04LA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA045), Feb 13, 2004: Cessna 172N (N9892J), Parowan, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's in-flight decision/planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion. The fence and night conditions were contributing factors. 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.