Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172S near Clearwater, FL — 2013-06-19

Final reportERA13LA291
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Date
2013-06-19
Location
Clearwater, FL, USA
Airport
PIE
Aircraft
CESSNA 172S
Registration
N426SJ
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because neither postaccident visual examinations nor test runs of the engine revealed any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was practicing touch-and-go takeoff and landings. While on the final leg of the traffic pattern for a second landing, the pilot realized that the airspeed was slow and added engine power. The engine did not respond, and, it subsequently experienced a total loss of power. After attempting to restart the engine, the pilot configured the airplane for its best glide speed and chose to land in the grass short of the runway. The airplane touched down in the grass and traveled over the airport perimeter road before coming to rest. Fuel samples obtained from the airplane immediately following the accident revealed no evidence of contamination. Neither postaccident visual examinations nor test runs of the engine revealed any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the landing when realizing low airspeed.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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