Cessna 172 N739YR

Summary

On 4 March 1996 at about 20:33 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N739YR, operated by Michael C. Rhoads, was involved in an accident near Ketchikan, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 March 1996 at 20:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Ketchikan, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

55.6110, -131.5808

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N739YR

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Michael C. Rhoads

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC96LA029

1 person had minor injuries.

loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of a suitable area for an emergency landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The first pilot, a certificated flight instructor, was providing a demonstration of departure stalls to the second pilot, who was occupying the left front seat. The instructor reported that he applied carburetor heat before beginning the demonstration. At the conclusion of the third stall, the first pilot added power about 1,800 feet mean sea level (MSL). The engine did not respond, and emergency procedures only restored partial power. The airplane continued to descend, and the pilot declared an emergency 'mayday' over the airplane radio. He selected an emergency landing area near the shore of an island, but noticed that the beach area contained large rocks. The pilot then intentionally ditched the airplane about 30 yards from the shore. After touchdown in the water, both pilots swam to shore and the airplane sank. A nearby float equipped airplane responded to the emergency call and picked up the two pilots. An examination of the airplane did not locate a mechanical malfunction. The reported temperature and dew point were 40 and -2 degrees, respectively, which were not conducive to carburetor icing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.