# NTSB DEN84LA226: Cessna 172, N4044F, W Bountiful, UT, July 17, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 17, 1984, 16:40 local (22:40 UTC)
- Place: W Bountiful, UT
- Coordinates: 40.879531, -111.819122 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8795&lon=-111.8191&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16434
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84LA226
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16434/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA226

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS A CESSNA 172 THAT HAD BEEN CONVERTED TO A 'TEXAS TAILDRAGGER' IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN APPROVED STC. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS FOR THE PLT TO OBTAIN A BIENNIAL FLT REVIEW. HE STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG BEGAN TO PROGRESSIVELY LOSE POWER, WITH EXCEPTION OF 2 OR 3 SHORT POWER SURGES. THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) SAID THAT HE TURNED ON THE BOOST PUMP & VARIED THE MIXTURE CONTROL WITH NO POSITIVE RESULTS. HE STATED THAT THE ENG NEVER COMPLETELY LOST POWER. THE CFI ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE ACFT & MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING BY MANEUVERING BETWEEN HOUSES & OBSTRUCTIONS. HOWEVER, DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT STRUCK A POWER LINE, A FENCE & A DITCH. AN EXAM OF THE ENG & ACFT REVEALED NO MAJOR DISCREPANCIES THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A LOSS OF POWER. THE DENSITY ALT WAS ABOUT 6800 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4044F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 36944
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Don Wood, doing business as Precision Electronics Inc
- Registered owner: Precision Electronics, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 1, 1984, 20 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 95 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SLC, 10 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 19840717033309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840717033309A), Jul 17, 1984: Cessna 172, West Bountiful, UT, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed during emergency landing during takeoff. Unauthorized auto fuel was being used.

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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