- Date
- October 2, 1999, 14:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place
- Wolfeboro, NH
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N6921XCessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 22, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19991002037659A
- Case key
- 47525
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After practicing maneuvers, the flight instructor and student pilot returned to the airport. The flight instructor decided to do one more takeoff and landing. After departing the runway, about 200 feet above the ground, the engine lost all power. The flight instructor ditched the airplane in a lake. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, a mechanic, and the owner of the airplane; did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions.
Factual narrative
On October 2, 1999, about 1440 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 172, N6921X, was substantially damaged during takeoff from Lakes Region Airport (8B8), Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. The certificated flight instructor and student pilot were not injured; and a passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The flight instructor stated that he completed some "airwork" and landed at 8B8. He decided to do one more takeoff and landing, and departed on Runway 30. About 200 feet above-ground-level the engine quit, and the pilot ditched the airplane in Lake Winnipesaukee. After the accident, he moved the fuel selector from "BOTH" to "OFF". He added that before the accident, he flew .7 hours according to the tachometer. The airplane was removed from the lake and placed in a hangar.
On October 4, 1999, a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the wreckage. He drained approximately 11 gallons of fuel from the fuel tanks. He did not find any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions.
Subsequently, the airplane's owner examined the wreckage with the assistance of a mechanic. They did not find any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6921X
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17247821
- Airframe hours
- 5,522
- Engine
- Continental O-300D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Lakes Region Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 30, 1999 · 48 hours before
- Departed
- 8B8
- Airport
- 8B8 · Lakes Region Airport, runway 30, 2,540 × 50 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,352 total · 1,002 in this make and model · 2,289 as pilot in command · 156 in the last 90 days · 53 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CON, 30 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.