# NTSB FTW96LA281: Cessna 172H, N1686F, Pierce, CO, June 30, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 29, 1996, 20:00 local (Jun 30, 1996, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Pierce, CO - Coordinates: 40.629516, -104.750167 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6295&lon=-104.7502&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 16, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19888 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA281 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19888/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA281 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the unsuitable terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, descent - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis While on a student training flight, the flight instructor retarded the throttle and activated the carburetor heat to simulate an engine failure. At the termination of the exercise when the throttle was advanced and the carburetor heat terminated, the engine failed to respond. A forced landing was made in a field which was unsuitable terrain for a safe landing. No evidence was found during the investigation to account for the engine response failure. ## Factual narrative On June 29, 1996, at 2000 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172H, N1686F, made a forced landing in a field approximately 9 miles east of Pierce, Colorado, while on an instructional flight. The certified flight instructor, student pilot, and passenger were not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The flight was being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local area instructional flight which departed Greeley-Weld County, Colorado, Airport at 1900. According to the flight instructor, he gave the student a simulated engine failure by retarding the throttle. After an idle descent of about 1 and 1/2 minutes, the exercise was terminated and power was added. The engine failed to respond and an emergency landing was made in a field. During landing roll, the nose gear collapsed and damage was sustained to one wing and the fire wall. In an interview with the flight instructor, he stated that carburetor heat had been applied when the engine was retarded at the beginning of the exercise and had been removed when the throttle was advanced. He also stated the engine was cleared several times during the descent. An examination of the engine was conducted by the IIC assisted by an FAA airworthiness inspector, and representatives of the airframe and engine manufacturer. No evidence was found to explain the loss of power. Due to damage to supporting structure, the engine was not run during the examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1686F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1686F), registered now, S/N 17255081, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172H - Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17255081 - Airframe hours: 8866 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hy Planes Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 5, 1996, 49 hours before - Departed: GXY, GREELEY, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 5,115 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 4,468 as pilot in command, 103 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GXY, 15 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 19960630015499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960630015499A), Jun 30, 1996: Cessna 172H, Pierce, CO, Substantial damage. Performing emergency landing, power applied for a go around, no engine responest landed in field, nose gear sheared 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.