Summary
On July 25, 1996, a Cessna 172 RG (N6169R) was involved in an incident near Union Bridge, MD. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: Loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s).
On July 25, 1996, at 1134 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172RG, N6169R, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing in a cornfield, after a loss of engine power during cruise flight. The certificated private pilot and the one passenger reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The airplane departed Gordonsville, West Virginia, at approximately 1040, with an intended destination of Saxtons River, Vermont.
The pilot reported that while in cruise flight at approximately 3500 feet, "...the engine lost power, propeller continued to windmill.
This incident is documented in NTSB report IAD96LA123. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N6169R.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s).
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On July 25, 1996, at 1134 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172RG, N6169R, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing in a cornfield, after a loss of engine power during cruise flight. The certificated private pilot and the one passenger reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The airplane departed Gordonsville, West Virginia, at approximately 1040, with an intended destination of Saxtons River, Vermont.
The pilot reported that while in cruise flight at approximately 3500 feet, "...the engine lost power, propeller continued to windmill. All seemed normal except no power." The pilot stated that he used his Global Positioning System receiver to look for an airport within gliding distance and found none. He said he notified Dulles Approach Control and "...picked wheat stubble field to land. We were low and had to avoid a tree - swung too wide and came down in corn which turned out to be 10 to 12 ft tall. It was a hard landing. Nose wheel broke off. Left landing gear broke. Came to rest with left wing tip on ground."
A post accident examination of the airplane was performed by a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector (Airworthiness). According to the Inspector's statement, "Engine was visually inspected and a post accident engine run-up was performed. Upon completion, found engine would only stay running when mixture control was in an excessively lean position. Suspect a fuel metering problem."
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# IAD96LA123