Cessna P172D N8540X

Summary

On 22 May 2022 at about 16:13 local time, a Cessna P172D registered N8540X was involved in an accident near Prescott, Arizona, United States. One person was 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

22 May 2022 at 16:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Prescott, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Prescott Regional Airport - Er (PRC)

Coordinates

35.1403, -111.6692

Aircraft

Cessna P172D

Registration

N8540X

Category

Airplane

Year built

1963

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Prescott → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR22LA186

1 person had minor injuries.

The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff the airplane’s engine suddenly lost power. Despite his efforts, the engine would not restart. Subsequently, the pilot initiated a forced landing in a field and, during the landing roll, the airplane impacted a tree stump, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. During a postaccident airframe and engine examination, the engine rotated freely, and all cylinders had compression and proper valve movement. The engine was started and run at various power settings, with no anomalies noted. No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures was found that would have precluded normal operation. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were not conducive to carburetor icing at cruise power, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.