# NTSB WPR22LA186: Cessna P172D, N8540X, Prescott, AZ, May 22, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 22, 2022, 09:13 local (16:13 UTC) - Place: Prescott, AZ · Off field landing about 1 mile past departure end of runway. - Coordinates: 35.140316, -111.66924 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1403&lon=-111.6692&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 105119 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105119/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105119 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA186 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna P172D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=2072202), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna P172D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072202), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff the airplane’s engine suddenly lost power. Despite his efforts, the engine would not restart. Subsequently, the pilot initiated a forced landing in a field and, during the landing roll, the airplane impacted a tree stump, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. During a postaccident airframe and engine examination, the engine rotated freely, and all cylinders had compression and proper valve movement. The engine was started and run at various power settings, with no anomalies noted. No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures was found that would have precluded normal operation. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were not conducive to carburetor icing at cruise power, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On May 22, 2022, about 0913 mountain standard time, a Cessna P172D airplane, N8540X, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Prescott, Arizona. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff from Prescott Regional Airport – Ernest A Love Field (PRC), Prescott, Arizona, the airplane’s engine suddenly lost power. He immediately recycled the magnetos, pushed the mixture to full rich, and pushed the nose down. Despite his efforts, the engine would not restart. The pilot planned to land on a road, but vehicle traffic prevented this. Subsequently, he initiated a forced landing to a field about 1 mile past the runway threshold. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a tree stump, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. During a postaccident engine examination, manual rotation was accomplished through the crankshaft, and all cylinders had compression and proper valve movement. An engine run was then accomplished at various power settings, and no anomalies were noted. No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures was noted during the examination of the recovered airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of the icing probability chart contained in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, revealed that the weather conditions at the time of the accident were not conducive to carburetor icing at cruise power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8540X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8540X), registered now, S/N P17257140, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA P172D - Registry model: [Cessna P172D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p172d) (registry code 2072202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GO-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-go-300-series) (registry code 17024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: P17257140 - Year built: 1963 - Airframe hours: 4124.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 21, 2021 - Departed: PRC, Prescott, AZ - Airport: PRC, Prescott Regional Airport - Ernest A. Love Field, runway 21L, 7,619 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 3, 2021; seat: left; flight hours: 377.1 total, 186 in this make and model, 300.5 as pilot in command, 8.9 in the last 90 days, 0.6 in the last 30 days, 0.1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KFLG - METAR: KFLG 221557Z 21008KT 10SM CLR 14/02 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP147 T01390017 ## 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 20220522008729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220522008729A), May 22, 2022: Cessna P172D, Prescott, AZ, Substantial damage. Pilot reported that N8540X departed RY21L and within less than a minute and about 1/2 mile of the departure end of the runway time the engine suddenly stopped… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 10, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105119. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14837799&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airframe and engine examination summary (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 556 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16102776&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA186%20%20Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Examination%202%20Final-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14838784&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Signed%202022%20Retention-Release-of-Wreckage-Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Carburetor ice information a�� FAA SAIB (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 219 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16972000&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CE-09-35-Rel%20Carb%20Ice-Rel.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.