# NTSB ERA24LA241: Cessna 172, N78445, Terryville, CT, June 3, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 3, 2024, 10:55 local (14:55 UTC) - Place: Terryville, CT · Campground - Coordinates: 41.628, -73.047 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6280&lon=-73.0470&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Textron, FAA/FSDO, Lycoming - NTSB case key (mKey): 194370 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA241 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194370/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194370 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA241 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was filled with fuel before the student pilot began the solo cross-country flight. About 30 minutes after departure, at 5,500 ft mean sea level, the engine rpm began to decrease until the engine lost all power, and the propeller was not windmilling. The pilot tried to restart the engine, but the propeller would not turn. She applied carburetor heat after the total loss of engine power but was not able to regain engine power. The pilot attempted to glide the airplane to a nearby airport, but it impacted wooded terrain about 1 mile from the airport and came to rest inverted. A review of a carburetor icing probability chart revealed a risk of serious icing at glide power; however, the engine was at cruise power before the loss of engine power. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed about 3/4 of the total fuel capacity remained onboard, and fuel was leaking from the wing fuel tanks that were compromised during the impact. The engine was subsequently examined at a recovery facility. Powertrain and valvetrain continuity were confirmed throughout the engine and no anomalies were noted. The engine was then started on the airframe. It started without hesitation and ran continuously at idle power. Due to airframe damage, higher power settings were not attempted. ## Factual narrative On June 3, 2024, about 1055 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172K, N78445, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Terryville, Connecticut. The student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The student pilot reported that the airplane’s fuel tanks were full before her departure on a solo cross-country flight. About halfway during the flight, at 5,500 ft mean sea level, the engine rpm began to decrease until the engine lost all power, and the propeller was not windmilling. She then tried to restart the engine, but the propeller would not turn. The student pilot reported that she applied carburetor heat after the loss of engine power. The student pilot then diverted and attempted to glide the airplane to a nearby airport, but it impacted wooded terrain about 1 mile from the airport. Review of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) carburetor icing chart revealed a risk of “Serious Icing – glide power” for the reported temperature and dew point. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed it came to rest inverted in a campground. Both wings and the fuselage were substantially damaged. The inspector added that about three-fourths of the total fuel capacity remained onboard, and that fuel was leaking from the wing fuel tanks that were compromised during the impact. The engine was subsequently examined at a recovery facility. Powertrain and valvetrain continuity were confirmed throughout the engine and no anomalies were noted. The engine was then started on the airframe. It started without hesitation and ran continuously at idle power. Due to airframe damage and safety concerns, higher power settings were not attempted (for more information, see Engine Examination Summary in the public docket for this investigation.) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N78445](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N78445), registered now, S/N 17257621, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (K) - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17257621 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 5235 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: U.S. Aviation Academy - Registered owner: Wings Over Texas Holdings LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 16, 2024, 5 hours before - Departed: POU, Wappingers Falls, NY - Destination: HFD, Hartford, CT - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: N41, Waterbury Airport, runway 17, 2,005 × 135 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 63 total, 34 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: OXC, 10 nm away - METAR: KOXC 031456Z 09005KT 10SM SCT120 24/13 A2995 ## 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 20240603006559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240603006559A), Jun 3, 2024: Cessna 172K, Plymouth, CT, Destroyed. On 6-3-2024, aircraft took off from pou(poughkeepsie, NY) on a cross country gflight to bdl(hartford, CT). During the flight at cruise(5500FT) the pilot… ## Other investigations on N78445 (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 NYC69D0457](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC69D0457), May 10, 1969: Cessna 172 (N78445), Lakewood, NJ, substantial damage ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 14, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194370. 6.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17356017&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record - FAA inspector interview summary (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17356315&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR-Rel.pdf - Engine examination summary (item 3, PDF, 7 pages, 4 photos, 737 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17356207&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Examination%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 5 photos, 969 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17355931&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Video - excerpt from engine run video (courtesy of FAA, MP4, 3 seconds, 330 kb) (item 5, MP4, 337 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17356325&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=vlc-record-2024-06-18-15h33m44s-Engine%20Run.MOV--Rel.mp4 - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 6, PDF, 10 pages, 580 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17356575&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Forms_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17356430&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release_Redacted-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.