# NTSB WPR22LA246: Cessna 172B, N7609X, Silver Springs, NV, July 7, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 6, 2022, 18:45 local (Jul 7, 2022, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Silver Springs, NV · desert terrain/side of the highway - Coordinates: 39.432811, -119.1459 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4328&lon=-119.1459&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 105453 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA246 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105453/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105453 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA246 ## Probable cause A 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 172B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=2072406), [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. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072406), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis The instructional flight was returning to the airport when the engine rpm began to fluctuate, followed by backfiring. The pilot completed the emergency loss of engine power checklist. Unable to maintain altitude, the flight instructor assumed control of the airplane and performed an off-airport landing on open desert terrain. During the landing roll, the nosewheel collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage’s undercarriage. The engine and various instruments and components were removed from the airplane before the airplane was recovered, which prevented examination of the engine and related systems to determine the cause of the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 2022, about 1845 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172B, N7609X, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Silver Springs, Nevada. The flight instructor sustained a minor injury and the pilot receiving instruction was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that, after conducting a preflight inspection, they departed the Silver Springs Airport (SPZ), with a planned destination of Fallon Municipal Airport (FLX), Fallon, Nevada. During a power reduction on the instrument approach at FLX, the engine experienced a slight backfiring. On the return flight to SPZ, the engine rpm began to fluctuate, followed by additional backfiring. The engine continued to produce partial power and the pilot completed the emergency loss of engine power checklist. Unable to maintain altitude, the flight instructor elected to land the airplane on open desert terrain near a highway. During the landing roll, the nosewheel collapsed and the propeller impacted terrain. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage undercarriage was substantially damaged. The engine and various instruments and components were removed from the airplane prior to its recovery by unknown person(s) without authorization, precluding additional examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7609X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7609X-2023-10-07), registration cancelled 2023-10-07, S/N 17248109 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172B - Registry model: [Cessna 172B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172b) (registry code 2072406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17248109 - Year built: 1961 - Airframe hours: 1313.9 - Engines: Continental Motors 0-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Aurora Aviation Academy LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 13, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: SPZ, Silver Springs - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 26; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor, remote; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 15, 2020; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,466 total, 1,241 in this make and model, 1,314 as pilot in command, 182 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 33; injuries: none; private, remote; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: KNFL, 20 nm away - METAR: KNFL 070156Z 32011KT 10SM SCT080 32/02 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP086 T03220022 ## 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 20220706012169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220706012169A), Jul 6, 2022: Cessna 172B, Silver Springs, NV, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted]Engine had a partial or complete power loss, resulting in an emergency landing. As part of the landing sequence, the aircraft impacted… ## Other investigations on N7609X (2) 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. - [NTSB ATL88IA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88IA113), Mar 14, 1988: Cessna 172B (N7609X), Elizabethton, TN, incident, minor damage - [NTSB MIA73FLA38](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA73FLA38), May 21, 1973: Cessna 172 (N7609X), Defuniak Spng, FL, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105453. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14349911&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memo for record, missing airplane engine (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 505 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16458839&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20Record-Rel.pdf - CFI email (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 166 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14395129&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CFI%20Email_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of e-mail correspondence (FAA) (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 160 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14350692&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20e-mail%20correspondence%20(FAA)-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 750 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14350823&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array-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.