# NTSB WPR13LA113: Cessna 172, N1421V, Wilcox, AZ, February 2, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 2, 2013, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Wilcox, AZ - Coordinates: 32.746944, -110.238609 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7469&lon=-110.2386&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86127 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86127/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86127 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA113 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation. ## 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 172M, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during a cross-country flight, the engine lost power. Despite his efforts, the pilot was unable to restart the engine and initiated a forced landing in rough terrain. During the off airport landing, the airplane nosed over. Postaccident examination of the airframe fuel system and engine run revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On February 2, 2013 about 1630 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172M, N1421V, was substantially damaged during a forced landing on rough terrain in the Aravaipa Canyon, 26 miles north-northwest of Wilcox, Arizona. The pilot and 3 passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan was filed. The accident occurred during the last leg of a multi-leg cross country flight that originated from Globe, Arizona, at 1500 with a planned destination of Benson Municipal Airport, Benson, Arizona.The pilot reported in a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) that about 2,000 feet above ground level, the engine suddenly lost power. He switched the fuel selector handle from the “Both” position to the “Right” tank position, since the right wing fuel gauge indicated about half a tank. Despite his efforts, the pilot could not restart the engine and he initiated a forced landing onto rough terrain. The nose landing gear dug into the terrain during the landing roll and the airplane nosed over. The pilot further stated that he had about 12 gallons of fuel in the left tank and 18 gallons of fuel in the right tank prior to departure. The airplane wreckage was removed from the accident site and transported to a secure facility for examination. According to the recovery team, both wing fuel tanks were found empty and soil underneath the wings was saturated with fuel. The recovered engine and airframe were examined by representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration and the NTSB investigator-in-charge. Examination of the airplane revealed the empennage section, fuselage and wings were buckled and the vertical stabilizer and rudder were crushed downward. The airframe fuel system was examined and no anomalies were noted. The engine was prepared for a test run on the airframe. The engine ran smoothly for several minutes. The examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. See the Examination Report in the public docket for further information. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1421V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1421V-2013-05-10), registration cancelled 2013-05-10, S/N 17263566, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (M) - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17263566 - Airframe hours: 8230 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Michael Owen - Registered owner: Michael Owen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 3, 2012 - Departed: P13, Globe, AZ - Destination: Benson, AZ - Airport: E95, Benson Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 6, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 800 total, 160 in this make and model, 800 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: P13, 54 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 20130202001739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130202001739A), Feb 2, 2013: Cessna 172M, Wilcox, AZ, Substantial damage. Lost engine power and was forced to land in a field near Wilcox. Witnessed NTSB engine run at salvage yard. Engine run, no defects noted. Fuel system appears… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86127. 825 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 395 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398296&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - NTSB Engine and Airframe Examination (item 2, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402721&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Engine%20and%20Airframe%20Examination-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 3, .PDF, 365 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402722&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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. --- 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.