# NTSB SEA92LA180: Cessna R172K, N736PS, Pocatello, ID, August 17, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 16, 1992, 18:00 local (Aug 17, 1992, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Pocatello, ID
- Coordinates: 42.860294, -112.629409 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8603&lon=-112.6294&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42877
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA92LA180
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42877/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA92LA180

## Probable cause

AN UNDETERMINED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.  A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: AN IN FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION DELAY.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - in-flight planning/decision - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - ditch
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE AIRPLANE ATTAINED AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL WHEN THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER AND THE CFI NOTED A LOW FUEL FLOW. THE CFI ORDERED THE SECOND PILOT TO REDUCE POWER, WHICH THE PILOT DID. THE CFI THEN DECIDED THAT THERE WASN'T SUFFICIENT ROOM LEFT TO LAND ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY AND ORDERED THE SECOND PILOT TO ADD FULL THROTTLE AND ACTIVATE THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP TO TRY AND RESTORE POWER TO GO-AROUND. THE CFI TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS AND MADE A RIGHT TURN AWAY FROM THE RUNWAY. POWER WAS NOT RESTORED AND THE CFI MADE A FORCED LANDING OFF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN A GRASSY AREA BETWEEN RUNWAYS, TRAVELLED ACROSS ANOTHER RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED. DURING THE POST-CRASH INSPECTION, THE ENGINE WAS PREPARED FOR AN ENGINE RUN. THE ENGINE STARTED IMMEDIATELY AND WAS RUN FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, WITH NO INDICATION OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N736PS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N736PS-1994-06-21), registration cancelled 1994-06-21, S/N R1722686 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA R172K
- Registry model: [Cessna R172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (registry code 2072431) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R1722686
- Airframe hours: 3008
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360-K 195 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Pocatello Avcenter Inc
- Registered owner: Pocatello Avcenter Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1991, 308 hours before
- Airport: PIH, Pocatello, runway 21, 9,056 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 2,171 total, 100 in this make and model, 1,904 as pilot in command, 143 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19920816031419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920816031419A), Aug 16, 1992: Cessna R172K, Pocatello, ID, Substantial damage. Lost power on takeoff. Aborted too late to land on runway. Nosed over in ditch. Reported lost fuel pressure.

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.

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