# NTSB ERA22LA029: Cessna 172, N1188L, Westhampton Beach, NY, October 23, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 23, 2021, 13:34 local (17:34 UTC) - Place: Westhampton Beach, NY - Coordinates: 40.843619, -72.631812 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8436&lon=-72.6318&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO, Lycoming Engines - NTSB case key (mKey): 104156 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104156/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104156 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA029 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## 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 (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a cross-country flight, the engine lost all power when the airplane was at an altitude of 3,000 ft mean sea level; however, the propeller continued to windmill. The pilot diverted toward an airport located about 5 miles west of the airplane’s position. He also attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. During the glide to the diversion airport, the airplane impacted trees just before the intended landing runway and came to rest upright against the airport perimeter fence. Postaccident examination of the engine and its accessories revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, about 35 gallons of fuel were drained after the accident, and fuel remained throughout the fuel system. As a result, the cause of the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available evidence for this investigation. ## Factual narrative On October 23, 2021, about 1334 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N1188L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Francis S Gabreski Airport (FOK), Westhampton Beach, New York. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot, who was conducting a cross-country flight, reported that he heard a “pop” when the airplane was at an altitude of 3,000 ft mean sea level. Afterward, the engine lost all power, but the propeller continued to windmill. The pilot diverted to FOK, which was about 5 miles west of the airplane’s position. He also attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. During the glide to FOK, the airplane impacted trees before reaching runway 24 and came to rest upright against the airport perimeter fence. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. Examination of the engine found that the top spark plugs, once removed, had electrodes that were intact and light gray in color. When the propeller was rotated by hand, crankshaft, camshaft, and valve train continuity were confirmed to the rear accessory section of the engine. Thumb compression was attained on all cylinders, and borescope examination of each cylinder revealed no anomalies. Both magnetos produced spark at all leads when rotated by hand. Additionally, about 35 gallons of fuel were drained after the accident, and fuel remained throughout the fuel system. The examination revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal engine operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1188L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1188L), registered now, S/N 172S10370, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S10370 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 964 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2a 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Convolo LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 19, 2021, 38 hours before - Departed: HTO, East Hampton, NY - Destination: ISP, Islip, NY - Airport: FOK, Francis S Gabreski, runway 24, 9,002 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review September 4, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,230 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 1,096 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: FOK, 1 nm away - METAR: KFOK 231753Z 33007KT 10SM BKN075 15/04 A2994 RMK AO2 ## 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 20211023018109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211023018109A), Oct 23, 2021: Cessna 172S, Westhampton, NY, Substantial damage. Departed hto enroute to isp at 2600 feet and near fok experienced engine failure. Pilot declared an emergency, attempted to restart and tried to make it to the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104156. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 770 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13211086&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Interview summaries (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13210481&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Interview%20Summaries-Rel.pdf - Excerpts from maintenance records (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 481 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13218192&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Mx%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 574 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13210908&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.