# NTSB ERA19TA098: Cessna 172, N7414N, Lignum, VA, February 10, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Final report - Date: February 10, 2019, 16:07 local (21:07 UTC) - Place: Lignum, VA - Coordinates: 38.397499, -77.806663 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3975&lon=-77.8067&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98969 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19TA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98969/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98969 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19TA098 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## 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; cases with it: [Cessna 172E, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072412), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Cessna 172E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=2072412), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172E, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072412), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172E, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072412), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172E, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072412), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the instructional flight, the flight instructor was demonstrating power-off stalls at an altitude of 3,000 ft above mean sea level (msl). During recovery from a stall, as the instructor applied engine power, the engine did not respond and subsequently lost all power. The instructor attempted to restart the engine and performed a forced landing to a rural highway, during which the airplane impacted a telephone pole and sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. Examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airframe or engine. No anomalies were noted during a subsequent test run of the engine. A review of the weather conditions as reported at the surface level and a numerical model of conditions at 3,000 ft msl revealed that carburetor icing was not likely. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On February 10, 2019, at 1607 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172, N7414N, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lignum, Virginia. The flight instructor and front seat student pilot were not injured, and the rear seat student pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the instructor, the flight departed about 1541 with 15 gallons of fuel in each wing tank (30 total gallons). About 30 minutes after takeoff, after performing clearing turns, steep turns, and slow flight, the instructor set up and performed a power-off stall, after which, just as the throttle was moved to the full power position, the engine failed to respond. The instructor confirmed via the tachometer that the engine was not producing power and took control of the airplane. The propeller initially windmilled and then came to a stop. She selected a field for landing and performed the engine failure checklist. She attempted to restart the engine twice but was unsuccessful. As she approached the field for landing, she determined that it would not be suitable due to standing water in the field and instead chose to land on a rural highway. Shortly after landing, the right wing impacted a telephone pole, the airplane turned 90° to the right, and the left wingtip impacted the ground. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that all major components of the airplane were present at the accident site. The right wing was bent upward outboard of the wing strut, with leading edge damage forward of the aileron. The left wing was substantially damaged and bent upward outboard of the aileron. The fuselage was buckled on the right side at the right-wing root area. Fuel with a blue tint was present in both the left and right fuel tanks and the gascolator. The throttle, mixture, and carburetor heat controls were intact and continuous from the cockpit controls to the engine. Fluid could be heard flowing as the throttle was moved forward, consistent with the accelerator pump operating. The primer operated normally with no leaks observed. The carburetor heat actuator and door moved freely, and all ductwork from the exhaust to the carburetor was intact. The following day the FAA inspector successfully started and operated the engine, which remained installed in the airplane with the complete fuel system (and remaining fuel) still intact. He operated the engine through the normal runup procedure and up to full power, with no anomalies noted. A review of weather observations from a nearby airport, carburetor icing charts, and a High-Resolution Rapid Refresh numerical model of weather conditions revealed a low probability of carburetor icing at the surface and at an altitude of 3,000 ft msl. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7414N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7414N-2021-06-29), registration cancelled 2021-06-29, S/N 17251346, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (E) - Registry model: [Cessna 172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (registry code 2072412) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17251346 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 2828 - Engines: Continental O-300A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Airport Services Inc - Registered owner: Airport Services Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 2018, 35 hours before - Departed: HWY, Warrenton, VA - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 47; injuries: none; commercial, private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 14, 2018; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 923 total, 715 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 14; injuries: none; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 7 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.47 inHg - Observed at: CJR, 8 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 20190210016309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190210016309A), Feb 10, 2019: Cessna 172E, Culpeper, VA, Substantial damage. The crew of N7414N, a Cessna 172E, suffered an engine failure during a training maneuver, and landed the aircraft on a public road. After touch down, the right… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98969. 61.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12502045&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%206120_1%20NTSB%20REPORT_print_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor and student statements (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12501668&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-02%20statements-085344_b_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 208 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12502055&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-04%20-%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector_ERA19TA098-Rel.pdf - Maintenance log excerpts (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 55.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12502098&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03-01%20Maintenance%20Log%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - weather reports and records (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 335 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12501678&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04-01%20-%20Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20Weather%20Information-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 784 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12502216&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-01-%20photo%20array_ERA19TA098-Rel.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.