# NTSB WPR13CA348: Cessna 172S, N635ND, Phoenix, AZ, July 26, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 26, 2013, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Phoenix, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.307777, -111.655281 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3078&lon=-111.6553&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
- Status: Completed, report September 12, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 87626
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA348
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87626/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87626
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA348

## Probable cause

A substantially damaged firewall that occurred during an unknown phase of flight for reasons that could not be determined.

## 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.

- [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 preflight inspection, a flight instructor discovered that the airplane’s firewall was substantially damaged. The operator reported that the damage occurred during an unknown flight operation. The airplane's last maintenance inspection occurred about a month prior to the discovery, equating to about 52 flight hours. Numerous pilots flew the airplane during that duration, none of which reported an event that would result in damage to the airplane. A determination as to the cause of the accident could not be made.

## Factual narrative

During a preflight inspection, a certified flight instructor discovered that the airplane’s firewall was substantially damaged. The operator reported that the damage occurred during an unknown flight operation. The airplane's last maintenance inspection occurred about a month prior to the discovery, equating to about 52 flight hours. Numerous pilots flew the airplane during that duration, none of which reported an event that would result in damage to the airplane. A determination as to the cause of the accident could not be made.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N635ND](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N635ND), registered now, S/N 172S11294, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- 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: 172S11294
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: The UND Aerospace Foundation
- Registered owner: The UND Aerospace Foundation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: IWA, Phoenix, AZ
- Destination: IWA, Phoenix, AZ
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: IWA, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, runway 30R

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 99; medical: unknown, unknown; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 10, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87626. 1.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399375&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.

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