Cessna 172P N97527

Summary

On 26 March 1997 at about 17:10 local time, a Cessna 172P registered N97527, operated by Brentco Aerial Patrol, Inc., was involved in an accident near Burlington, Wyoming, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 March 1997 at 17:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Burlington, Wyoming, United States

Coordinates

44.4401, -108.4303

Aircraft

Cessna 172P

Registration

N97527

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Brentco Aerial Patrol, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Worland → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA97FA076

1 person died.

loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Before flight, both wing fuel tanks were 'topped off' with 50 gallons of usable fuel. At about 0950 MST, the pilot departed Worland, Wyoming, en route to Cody, Wyoming, to commence the second half of an aerial pipeline patrol route. After an estimated 20 minutes of flight, the aircraft crashed in an area of uneven, sage covered, terrain. The flaps were found extended 8 degrees, the ignition had been switched to 'LEFT,' and there was evidence that the pilot had slowed the aircraft before it impacted uneven terrain. No evidence was found to indicate that the engine was developing power when impact occurred; aft bending of the propeller was noted with minimal abrasion and chordwise scratching. Extensive hydraulic effect was noted on both main fuel tanks, as well as on one of the brass floats within the carburetor float chamber. An engine teardown revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunction, and no anomaly was found with the aircraft's fuel, air, or ignition systems. Postcrash testing of the aircraft's auxiliary fuel system revealed no mechanical malfunction. Temperature and due point at Worland were 54 and 32 degrees; according to icing probability charts, these conditions were conducive for carburetor ice; however, carburetor icing was not verified.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.