Cessna 172N N738LJ

Summary

On 31 July 2006 at about 02:00 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N738LJ, operated by James W. Woelfel, was involved in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska, United States. 4 people were 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

31 July 2006 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.2500, -149.9667

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N738LJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

James W. Woelfel

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Anchorage → Merrill Field

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC06LA104

Nobody was injured.

The possible loss of engine power during takeoff/initial climb for an unknown reason, which resulted in a forced landing in rough terrain and a nose over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private certificated pilot departed from a private grass airstrip on a personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. He reported that the airplane lifted off at 55 nautical miles per hour, but would not climb. He said the airplane's engine felt like it was not producing normal takeoff power, and the airplane descended, struck the ground, and nosed over. The right wing and vertical stabilizer were damaged during the accident. The airplane has not been examined by the NTSB investigator-in-charge due to its remote location, and the pilot was unable to provide additional information regarding what may have precipitated the perceived loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.