N7207A

On November 27, 2018, about 1230 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N7207A, was destroyed during a forced landing and postcrash fire following a total loss of engine power shortly after departure from an off-airport landing site on Montague Island about 60 miles east of Seward, Alaska. The student pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 visual flight rules (VFR) flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, on a previous flight the same day, while on final approach to the off-airport landing site on Montague Island the engine lost all power. He applied carburetor heat and was able to restart the engine and landed uneventfully.

Following the event, the pilot sumped the fuel system and removed 7 vials of water. He then taxied for departure and completed a run-up. The engine continued to run rough for a short period of time, then began to smooth out with no anomalies noted.

Just after departure from the off-airport landing site, at about 30 ft above ground level, the engine lost all power. The airplane impacted Alder trees off the departure end of the airstrip and was destroyed by postcrash fire.

The aircraft was equipped with a Continental Motors O-300 series engine.

Due to the remote location of the accident site, the airplane was not recovered or examined after the accident.

The closet weather reporting facility is Seward Airport (PAWD), Seward, Alaska, about 60 miles west of the accident site. At 1353, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) from PAWD was reporting in part: wind, calm; sky condition, broken clouds at 3,800 ft, broken clouds at 4,900 ft, overcast clouds at 6,000 ft; visibility, 10 statute miles; temperature, 45° F; dewpoint, 41° F; altimeter, 29.06 inHg.