Cessna 172 N171Q

Summary

On 25 July 2018 at about 01:30 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N171Q was involved in an accident near Meadow Lakes, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 July 2018 at 01:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Meadow Lakes, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

North Cubs Strip (8AK8)

Coordinates

61.6300, -149.6825

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N171Q

Category

Airplane

Year built

1956

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Meadow Lakes → Anchorage

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA454

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s selection of the wrong fuel tank for departure, which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent total loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during the initial climb, the engine experienced a total loss of power. He added that he realized the wrong fuel tank had been selected for takeoff. He subsequently performed a forced landing on a gravel stream bed north of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.